In partnership with Winning Time Canada this year the Fernie Half Marathon will be using chip timing for the race. As the event attracts more runners each year the FHM organizers felt the need to offer this professional timing option.
"Chip timing is becoming the standard in many high-end races and it will enable us to provide a more organized and professional event," says Race Administrator Lori Bradish.
For more info on Winning Time and chip timing go to www.winningtime.ca. Keep on training!

Need some inspiration to train for The Fernie Half Marathon? Join Christina Smith at Evolution Fitness Wednesdays for a non-competitive 1-1.5 hour run around Fernie's gorgeous trails. Runners meet at the gym at 5pm - check out the Fernie Half Marathon course and run right on the same trails. Have a great summer of training!

The FHM event planners are organizing a cool day-before-the-race event to help runners get in the right head space for their run. A Luncheon Forum with specialists in training, wellness and keeping your body running fit will be held on Saturday October 2 at the Park Place Lodge. The presentations will be combined with a gourmet lunch, followed by Race Pre-Registration and Package Pick-Up. A Runner's Expo will round out the afternoon. Racers are asked to register for the Luncheon Forum by emailing us at info@ferniehalfmarathon.com. Cost for the event will be $15.

The Park Place Lodge is proud to be a corporate sponsor and partner of this year's Fernie Half Marathon. The hotel is offering special rates for Run participants and we are expecting to host our Runner's Forum and Registration Package Pick up at the hotel on Saturday October 2. Check out the hotel website www.parkplacelodge.com for reservations. Follow the link under Rates and enter FHM in the Promotional Code Box.

The City of Fernie has honoured our favourite Fernie girl, Olympic skier Emily Brydon, by naming the dyke trail between the east and west Fernie bridges the Emily Brydon Trail. Runners will be starting and finishing the Fernie Half Marathon on this trail and celebrating Emily's accomplishments during her great ski career! Congratulations Emily! Be sure to check out the trail map to see the course!

Our new streamlined registration process is now functioning and ready to take your information. Thanks to the hard working staff at Claris Media for helping us get this organized to make it easier for everyone to register for this great event. Make sure you plan on spending the weekend in Fernie when coming for the run - there'll be plenty to do with our Runner's Expo and Registration on Saturday and the run on Sunday. Plans are still in the works for a Runner's Forum on Saturday that will feature a full morning of info on fitness, gear and staying the training.

Thanks to all you keen runners who are interested in registering already for our 2010 Fernie Half Marathon! We are still working with our web designer and will have the online registration form working within weeks. The form will be an easy step-by-step process and will enable everyone to pay and register right online. Please check back to the website in March to register.

The Fernie Half Marathon was a great race this year and we couldn't have done it without our generous sponsors. We want to especially thank Gord from Gord's Running Store in Calgary for all his help. All our sponsors are listed to the right. And a special thank you has to go to all the students and parents from The Fernie Academy who came out to make sure the race was safe, controlled and hydrated!
All the Name the Hill contest suggestions are still being sorted. The winning name will be announced in the next few weeks.

The 2009 Fernie Half Marathon is over for another year and a great race was had by all! We hosted a course record 377 runners, which included 49 kids. Look for next year's registration form after October 15 and the official new name of the "Killer" Hill.
Check out ferniehalfmarathon.photoreflect.com to order your Race Photos.

The following are the Top Finishers. All racers' results will be posted by Wednesday.
Male:
1 - Ryan Cain - Cranbrook - 1:20:02
2- Roger Smith - Parson - 1:22:56
3 - Jason Kindrat - Blairmore - 1:26:45

Female:
1 - Kayla Smithies - Elkford - 1:39:58

Online registration for the 2009 FHM is now closed. Runners may still register at the Start/Finish area in the Fernie Annex Park at 9 am Sunday morning. The race will start at 10 am Sharp. There are a record 375 runners (and counting) this year and the weatherman is predicting sunny skies with a few clouds and a high of 6 degrees C.
Good Luck to all the runners and thanks to all the sponsors and the many volunteers, especially The Fernie Academy kids and parents, who helped out to make the race a great success.