Canal Run Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Megan K.
Houghton, MI

  (08-04-2009)

"The Hancock Canal run in Hancock, Michigan, is a small, locally organized event hosted by Portage Health, Citizen's Bank, and the Hancock Business Association. This year's race (2009) was my third time competing, and it was the first year that the course was certified through USATF.

Hancock is a great place to have a race. It's so beautiful in the Keweenaw, and life is a little slow. I've been fortunate to live here for the past several years, and find the Canal Run a perfect event for a small town that just keeps on growing. In its 34th year, the Canal Run had its highest number of registrants, thanks to advertising and the addition of a new event.

The main event, the 10-mile, begins at McLain State Park on beautiful Lake Superior. Racers are shuttled on local school buses on ten minute intervals, which makes it easy at the finish line. The race includes a 10-mile walk, run, and this year, a 5-mile event as well. The 5-mile course followed the same course as the 10 and started half hour after the long race began. It was convenient for the 10-mile leaders because as they approached the 5-mile start, the 5-mile race began, and the 10-mile racers had people to race with.

The course is fast and and fairly flat. The route follows the Portage Canal, and has absolutely beautiful views of the waterfront for nearly 8 miles. The only downside was the placement of the aid stations- there was sparse aid between miles 3 and 6, and unusually clustered aid stations from miles 8 to 9.5. Toward the end of the race, there are a few uphills (one around mile 8 and another just after mile 9). The finish line is in the center of downtown Hancock, and the entire downtown is filled with cheering spectators. The finish line festivities this year included plenty of delicious (and organic!) food, including bananas, grapes, cinnamon rolls, oranges, and Gatorade, race t-shirt distribution, and local business booths featuring post-race massages. The best thing about the event is the awards: Handmade ceramic medallions that are painted with a scenic image of the Canal. For only a $23 entry fee, it makes for a great destination race, as a weekend in the Keweenaw offers a lot to see for those on a budget!

This year's competition was stiffer than usual. The men's race was taken at 53min28sec, and the women's race was won in 62min, 9sec.

I personally didn't have the race of a lifetime, and was nearly 3 minutes off my best time in 2007 (and a minute slower than last year's time). It was a fun event, though, and I was excited to catch up to and run with some of my friends that were in the 5-mile event (that had closed the bars the night before, even!).

The night before, instead of hanging out with my friends at the bar (mentioned above), I helped out at the spaghetti dinner and packet pickup. The spaghetti was delicious, and it was all-you-can-eat for $10. There was also a raffle for local merchandise and gift certificates, and I won a free massage (1.5 hrs!). I also snagged my friends' tickets as they left the dinner, and won a gift certificate to the Keweenaw Brewing Company, which is just across the street from my place. Perfect!"

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009