“The conditions of this year course were excellent,” he said. “The pavement was brand new for the entire 13.1 miles. It was good racing no wind.”

Juntunen is no stranger to the Canal Run. He did his first one in 1992 and said he might have missed one or two since then due to road conditions.

“This is one of my all time favorite courses,” he added. “The scenery is so nice and the course gently undulates. So it is not flat and boring. There are curves and so it moves fast. There is nothing bad about this race. It is a super course.”

Twenty minutes later, runner Stephen Eles crossed the finish line with a time of 1:15:31.4. The Houghton resident has run the Canal Run for the past several years winning it 2017 and 2018. He too stated that conditions were ideal.

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Kate McCloud, of Atlantic Mine, poses after finishing the half marathon of the Canal Run 2021 in Hancock.

“I like the warmer weather.” he said. “Low 60s at race time is perfect. It was a great temperature without a whole lot of wind.”

He added that the first couple of miles are easy and the last are the hardest.

“Once you get past McLain (State Park), you know you are on your way home,” he explained. “But there is a slight uphill climb that is a grind to finish it out.”

Following Eles with a time of 1:23:57.36 was the women’s winner, Kate McCloud, of Atlantic Mine. She too has a winning tradition with the Canal Run. She won in 2016 and 2017. She was in the back of the corral at the start of the race and said she was pacing herself by passing people one by one.

“I think I was a little fast out of the gate, but I am not complaining.” she said after catching her breath at the finish line. “I am just glad to be able to run. I am so thankful for the organizers to be able to be out here. Last year with the pandemic was very hard. I think that this is my first road race since 2019.”

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton native W. Jacarl Melton grabs his breath after finshing the half marathon of the Canal Run 2021 in Hancock.

McCloud added that the pandemic did not slow her down as she has a consecutive running streak of 2,060 days.

“I haven’t missed a day to get out and run now for six years now,” she said.

After the top three runners, there were more than 685 others who took part in Saturday’s run. While the majority of them came from the Upper Peninsula, there were quite a few from out of state and even a handful of athletes from around the world.

“I’ve heard nothing but good news today,” said Canal Run race director Angela Luskin. “People are telling me they are glad to be back, and we are so thankful for the support from our sponsors, volunteers and community.”

Race Results

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Two young boys and their mother anxiously await their father’s finish during the Canal Run 2021 in Hancock.

Half marathon

Overall: Stephen Eles (M40-49), Houghton, 1:15:31.4.

Female: Kate McCloud (30-39), Atlantic Mine, 1:23:54.7.

10 mile run

Overall: Nicholas Wimmer (M30-39), Minneapolis, Minnesota, 54:58.1.

Female: Michelle Bollini (20-29), Houghton 1:0518.3.

10 mile walk

Overall: Liddy Markham (F40-49), Houghton, 2:00:01.

Male: Brent Isaacson (40-49), Houghton, 2:09:47.2.

5 mile run

Overall: Branden Peterson (M0-19), Chassell, 30:55.0.

Female: Ingrid Seagren (0-19), Hancock, 35: 51.7.

5 mile walk

Overall: Amy Hughes (F50-59), Hancock, 1:03:51.8

Male: Robert Haase (M60-69), Calumet, 1:04:55

2 mile run-walk

Overall: Henry Lounibos, Hancock, 15:49.8

Female: Sarah Hoffman, Hancock, 19:39.3

Half marathon wheel chair 

Dean Juntunen, Mass City, 56.22