Home / Featured / Canal Run Encourages Youth Movement with Introduction of New Race Day Program
Frank A. Douglass Insurance Agency

Canal Run Encourages Youth Movement with Introduction of New Race Day Program

For close to fifty years canal run has gotten people of all ages to complete a run along the Portage Canal. This year the event plans to introduce a new option, specifically for local students, that will get the school district involved, Copper Country School Challenge. UPHS Portage Community Health Coordinator Angela Luskin says that over the years they’ve introduced the two-mile kids run for youth. However, the new event opportunity will look similar to cross-country events students participate in in the fall.

New this year we have the Copper Country School Team Challenge. And we’re excited. For Canal Run, we say there are five distances and nine races. So, there’s a race for everyone. And it’s so important to support our local youth and to encourage movement and activity. And that’s what we are doing with the school challenge. So all of the schools in the Copper Country have a team in the Canal Run database. They’re able to sign up under that team. We have cross-country scoring for the challenge for the school with the best time for all of the events. So anyone can sign up for that 2-mile event and the school with the lowest score will win the team challenge. So just something fun to introduce to our community. – Angela Luskin, Community Health Coordinator, UPHS Portage

The Copper Country School Challenge encourages students from all grade levels to participate in Canal Run. Each school district can form teams of up to ten students for any of the race distances. The top 7 athletes at will be considered for the challenge’s scoring similar to cross-country meets. Registration for Canal Run also has a kid’s dash for youth in the region to participate in too. Those interested in learning more about the Canal Run on July 20th presented by UPHS Portage can find more details canal.run. Find details of the Copper Country School Team Challenge below.

Looking for a great event to participate in this summer? Consider the 2024 Canal Run! With 5 distances and 9 events, there is a race for everyone. Choose from one of the following races: Half Marathon, Half Marathon Wheelchair, Bob Olson 10 Mile Run, 5 Mile Run, 5 Mile Blade Run, 10 Mile Walk, 5 Mile Walk, 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk and Kids Dash.  For more details or to register, click here.  We are also looking for volunteers for the event, check out the list of volunteer positions.

Copper Country School Challenge – We are introducing a school wide challenge for the 2024 Canal Run

  • 10 athletes (males or females) from each school are eligible for scoring for each distance (i.e. 2 mile, 5 mile, 10 mile and half marathon)
  • Finisher position amongst scholastic athletes equals the number of points they earn
  • Top 7 athletes from each school are considered for scoring for each distance. 8,9, and 10 are used for breaking a tie, as necessary.
  • Each school’s points from each distance are summed up for the total score
  • The school with the lowest score wins the title

To enter the School Team Challenge, simply pick your school district from the pre-populated list of teams during registration OR if you are already signed up, update your RunSignUp registration. We’ll announce the winning school after scoring is complete with the help of our friends at Superior Timing!

We’d love to see you at the Finish Line!

Check Also

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition requests proposals for two 2025 grant programs

The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition announces its 2025 round of Community Conversation Grants and Environmental …