The Air North Midnight Dome Race is set to go July 19.
The Saturday morning sprint that begins in front of the Palace Grand in downtown Dawson and ends at the top of the Dome just south of town has become a fixture with the annual Dawson City Music Festival.
After dancing away the night under the tent Friday, dozens of walkers and runners of all ages lumber out of bed and lace up the sneakers to take part in the seven-kilometre trek.
Back in the early days of the run, it was the mineral exploration staff that used to compete, racing up the hill in hopes of winning an old coffee pot.
“All the staff with the weekend off would take part and it was a bunch of fun, much like it is today,” says Marg White, a longtime race timer of the event.
White says these days there’s no coffee pot up for grabs but simply bragging rights.
“It’s a tradition, the Dome Run is tradition,” explains White, when asked how it is so many people manage to take part despite the early 10 a.m. start. “And it’s a great event that has really become a part of the music festival.”
So much so that some race participants elect to stay up through the night Friday and then try to stagger their way to the top.
“It’s not the best idea but it has happened in past years,” said White.
This year, White has handed over organizing and chief timer duties to Dawson resident Suzanne Crocker, electing instead to stay at home in Whitehorse.
Her husband, Don, an avid runner, hopes to take part in the Robinson Misadventure, a run held at the Robinson Subdivision for folks not travelling to Dawson, and Marg no doubt will be helping in some way with timing.
White says she has no worries as Crocker and her team of volunteers will be fine taking over the organizing responsibilities of the Dome Run.
“Keep it simple, that’s what I told them, simple,” said White. “A few water stations, some timers and of course a person at the top.”
Dawson resident Jennifer Flynn is one of the people recruited by Crocker to help out.
She says while they are finding there is more to organizing the run than they had bargained for, preparation is going well and they are confident the run will be a success.
“Suzanne is a very organized and determined person and willing to do what it takes to get the job done,” said Flynn. “Plus we have quite a few volunteers that have come forward to dedicate their time, too.”
The Dome Run begins Saturday morning at 10 a.m. with registration Friday night at Minto Park.
