A record 4,900 runners are signed up to participate in the 32nd annual Canyonlands Half Marathon and Five Mile Run races this Saturday, March 17.

Of that total, 1,000 runners will compete in the five-mile race (which begins at 9:30 a.m.), and the remaining 3,900 will run the 13.1-mile half marathon (which starts at 10 a.m.). Both races will start on state Route 128 (the Colorado River Road) and end at Swanny City Park.

    Race director Ranna Bieschke said this week that more than 2,000 people were turned away after the registration limit was reached.

    "We did have a silent auction where 100 additional slots were sold to the highest bidder," she said, adding that over $7,000 was raised at the auction and will be split between two local charities (the Humane Society of Moab and Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center).

    Mindful that this year's race falls on St. Patrick's Day, organizers have literally "gone green" ‒ the competitors' shirts and hats are various shades of green, and the 400 or so race volunteers will be wearing bright lime T-shirts.

    "We'll even have green Gatorade," said Bieschke.

Bieschke said the weather is expected to be warm this weekend, and that race-time temperatures could reach 80 degrees.

    "With that in mind, we'd like to remind the runners to stay hydrated, and not try and go all out," she said.

    Spectators are invited to cheer on the runners near the finish line and to enjoy the live music, vendors, and various other activities at Swanny City Park.

    The overall 2005 winners Joe Wilson (who also won in 2003 and 2004) and Julie Thomas are registered to compete, as are 2006 winners Mike Nielson and Julie Cassidy, Bieschke said. Former wheelchair division winners John Brewer and Vance Anderson are also registered for this year's race.

    New this year is an aid station competition ‒ after reaching the finish line, runners will have a chance to vote for their favorite out of the six aid stations spread out every couple of miles along the race route. The winning aid station team members will each receive a pair of sunglasses courtesy of local sponsor Zeal Optics.

    The top five runners in each age category will receive awards, including the Sheri Haymore Female Masters Award for the top overall female runner over age 40. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at 12:15 p.m. Personal record pins will also be available at the awards tent.

    Youth Garden Project members, who helped clean up trash along the race route last weekend, will be serving a pre-race pasta dinner at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center (111 E. 100 North) on Friday night beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets for that event are already sold out.

    Additionally, a pre-race expo will take place on Friday, March 16 at the Grand Center (182 North 500 West) from 1-9 p.m. The expo will feature a variety of running-related booths including official race merchandise. Race packets can be picked up at this location on Friday as well as from 6-7 a.m. on Saturday.                      Participants will need their confirmation cards and photo ID in order to pick up their packets.

    Shuttle buses transporting the runners to the starting lines will begin loading in front of Helen M. Knight Intermediate School at 7 a.m. City streets surrounding Swanny City Park and HMK will be closed on Saturday beginning at 5:30 a.m. State Route 128 will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and travel along 400 North and 500 West will also be restricted that morning.

    The Canyonlands Half Marathon has traditionally been Moab's big event to kick off the yearly tourist season. Lodging, restaurants, and other establishments are getting geared up to accommodate the expected huge crowds of visitors.