BANFF - Melissa’s Road Race isn’t going anywhere fast.
With uncertainty surrounding the future of Banff restaurant and pub Melissa’s Missteak, one thing is for certain: the popular Melissa’s Road Race will sprint forward, says race organizer Paul Regensburg.
“We’ll carry that race on until the end of time,” said Regensburg of Banff Marathon Inc. “Whatever path [Melissa’s Missteak] takes down the road will not affect the race whatsoever.”
Last week, reports surfaced from the owners of Melissa’s Missteak that the popular spot is in jeopardy of not having its lease renewed. The establishment has been in operation since the 1970s and in October 2019 was closed for renovations.
In 2018, Banff Marathon Inc. purchased Melissa’s Road Race from Melissa’s Missteak, or Mel's as it's commonly known as, after previous organizers said the 2017 race would be their last time running it.
When Banff Marathon Inc. put its foot forward to buy the race, it acquired the name and feel of the event, which originally started in 1979 as means to attract tourism to Banff during its off-season, but the two identities do not have any business operating relationship.
“We loved the tradition of the race,” Regensburg said. “Myself and family and other friends, we’ve all done the race over the course of its history, so there’s a high level of the affection for the event … we didn’t want to see it die [in 2018, and] we loved the fact it was a historic race with a rich history and fondly thought of in Alberta, and, really, Canada for that matter.”
Over the past two years, the event has sold out with 4,500 participants signed up and is on its way for a third consecutive full house in 2020, said Regensburg. A longtime sporting tradition in Banff National Park, the race offers five-kilometre, 10-km and half-marathon races.
“We are already 80 per cent sold out for 2020, which are good numbers for this time of year,” Regensburg said.
The 2020 Melissa’s Road Race takes place September 26.
