Participants in a past Canal Run celebrate crossing the finish line. Image courtesy of Canal Run Facebook

The UP’s annual Canal Run will return on July 20 for its 49th year. The event has options for a half-marathon, half marathon wheelchair division, 10-mile run, 10-mile walk, five-mile run, five-mile blade division, five-mile walk, and two-mile run/walk. The run features a course along the Portage Canal. There are discounts for early registration and teams. Participants also get a free T-shirt, high quality photo downloads after the race, and custom awards for top finishers! Registration is open now at canal.run/race/info. 

The Canal Run first began in 1975 and is “the premier running event in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula,” according to the event website. The run was founded by Bob Olson in 1975. Olson was a dedicated runner and owned WMPL radio at the time he founded the run. He coordinated the event for several years with his family and only a few volunteers. In his honor, the race committee named the 10-mile run the 10-Mile Bob Olson Memorial Run. A scholarship was also started after Olson’s death in 2018. 

As the race grew, Olson was able to secure support for D&N Bank, UP Health System-Portage, and Finlandia University. The event is endorsed by the Governor’s Council’s Michigan Fitness Foundation. 2024 sponsors include the City of Hancock, Copper Country Running Company, Portage Paddle Sports and 41 Lumber, among many others. 

The race hosts as many as 850 participants each year. The self-sustaining event brings in enough money from registration fees and sponsorships to cover all of its costs. Since 2011, the organizing committee has donated a total of $20,000 to non-profit organizations in the area as part of the Canal Run Gives Back program. 

One of Canal Run 2024’s main goals is to host over 1,000 racers. The “Race to 1,000” initiative is a referral program, where past Canal Run participants can refer first-timers for a discount on their own race registration. 

It takes over 100 volunteers to pull off the Canal Run.

“From the very start, this event has been run by some of the very best volunteers the Copper Country has to offer,” organizers said online. “Most of them have been doing it for many years and can tell you many stories of their time at the Canal Run.”

Volunteers help with registration, organizing the finish chute, timing, aid stations, leading and following the race, controlling traffic, and setting up the course. All registered volunteers will receive a free Canal Run T-shirt and be entered into a raffle for the chance to win prizes including a stand-up paddle board from Portage Paddle Sports and a $100 Keweenaw Cash gift certificate. Those interested in volunteering can register at canal.run/race/canal, under the ‘volunteer’ tab. Questions can be directed to the Canal Run Volunteer Coordinator at volunteercanalrun@gmail.com. 

There will be no parking at the race start, but a shuttle service will be available. Pets and bikes are not allowed, but strollers are welcome. A full FAQ can be found at canal.run/Race/CanalRun/Page/questions.