CANMORE - Canmore, Alta., will host this year's Canadian Mountain Bike Championships from July 15 to 18. Hosted by Rundle Mountain Cycling Club at the Canmore Nordic Centre, the races will feature Canmore's iconic single-track climbs and descents in a course designed to be awesome for both the racer and spectator.

The festival starts off with the "Clash for Cash" on July 15 - a prologue-style race that starts and finishes in downtown Canmore in front of the Civic Centre. The course loops up through the Nordic Centre and down the brand-new Soft Yogurt trail. This event is open to anyone with a bike and a helmet who wishes to race and test themselves against the best. Cash prizes will be available to the top finishers, a party in the mountains for the rest.

Come out on July 16 for a "Share the Road" ride, supporting cyclist safety on our roads.

The main event hits off on July 17 with the Women's Elite race in the morning and the Men's in the afternoon. Come out to watch the best in the country ride the best trails in the country. The course includes both new and old trails, and spectacular scenery under the peaks of Mount Rundle.

Canadian women expected to compete include Catharine Pendrel and Marie-Hélène Prémont who are currently dominating some of the top spots in international cross-country racing. Catharine Pendrel holds the No. 1 spot on World Cup rankings following her recent win in Offenburg, Germany. Marie-Hélène Prémont, the 2004 Athens Olympics silver medallist, is also having a strong season and seems to be returning to her winning form.

The men's race features multi-year Canadian Champion, World Cup winner and mutton-chops wearer Geoff Kabush. Geoff has won here before in the Canada Cup series and thrives on these challenging trails.

Also watch for Alberta racers such as previous Canmore Canada Cup women's winner Mical Dyck and the up-and-coming Cody Canning of Edmonton.

Sandwiched between the Men's and Women's Elite races is the Little Ziggy. This event is for kids aged five to 12 years old. They get to race on their own single-track courses - designed with kids in mind. Rundle Mountain Cycling Club has, over the past five years, built up a massive youth program with hundreds of participants - this is a chance for them to be a part of the event and have some fun. The race is open to all children, whether they are club members or not. A working mountain bike and an approved bike helmet are required.

July 18 is the day for everyone else. Age group, juniors, masters, and citizen's category races will all take place on the Sunday, over the same trails as the elite racers. Amenities include a great race course, great prizes and a rowdy bike festival.

The National Championships are more than just a bike race. Join Jay Hoots at the Nordic Centre bike park for a skills demo and some big jumps. Enjoy the scheduled parties around town, the bike festival at the Nordic Centre and the free swag. Racers are sure to take advantage of the handy Bikini Bike Wash.

Check rundlemountaincycling.com as further details and specifics become available. If you can't make it to the event, there will be a live webcast from around the course.

- Courtesy, Rundle Mountain Cycling Club

The Victoria Marathon Society today announced that the Royal Victoria Marathon has secured a title sponsor. GoodLife Fitness has acquired the title rights for three years to cover the 2010, 2011 and 2012 events. The Royal Victoria Marathon will now be known as the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon.

"We are looking forward to working with GoodLife Fitness to spread the word about the Victoria Marathon," says Cathy Noel, general manager of the Victoria Marathon. "With the GoodLife partnership we will become a destination event for active people across the country. The impact that our event will have on our Official Charities is very exciting. We will be working with GoodLife's two charities - GoodLife Kids Foundation and the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group. With their contribution and the Victoria Marathon's Charity Pledge Program, the total impact on charities could be over $400,000 this year alone."

"The Victoria Marathon is one of the premiere athletic events in Canada and as the largest Fitness club chain in Western Canada, GoodLife Fitness is thrilled to be partnering as the lead sponsor of this prestigious event," he said.

Rob Reid, Victoria Marathon race director, has known Patchell-Evans for many years. "He has had tremendous success in building his business, and we are proud to partner up in our quest to promote health, fitness and charity building. Participants will be pleased to see how this new partnership unfolds."

This is the first time that the Victoria Marathon has acquired a title sponsor in its 31-year history.

"I am thrilled with the merger of a first-class running event with a blue-chip fitness business, both of which have a vision of exercise, good health and well-being," says Bob Reid, president of the Victoria Marathon Society.

Reid, who also manages the elite athlete component of the Victoria Marathon, is looking forward to attracting more runners from Eastern Canada by leveraging initiatives with the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon.

The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, held in October, will unite with the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon - which moves from an October event in 2010 to May 2011 and 2012 - to cross-promote both events and present an opportunity for runners from east and west of Canada to compete in both marathons at a reduced rate.

The 31st Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon takes place Sunday, October 10, 2010. The Victoria Marathon is ranked No. 1 in Canada for most Boston Marathon qualifiers and No. 2 in Canada of top Boston Marathon qualifying races. For the second year, it will host the 2010 Provincial Marathon Championships. In addition to the Marathon there is a Half Marathon, 8K Road Race and Thrifty Foods Kids Run & Marathon. For more details, visit www.runvictoriamarathon.com.

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