By: Harold Piel
Event Name: 2025 Lockport River’s Edge Run/Walk for HD
Date: May 10, 2025
Location: Lockport, Manitoba
Synopsis: When visiting family in Winnipeg, we gotta get in a simple race, and this event fits the bill. We did the 10K that starts at the famous Lockport station at the Legendary Skinners Restaurant. Fun run, that runs along the winding banks of the Red River, for a simple out and back. This event also offered 30K, 21.1, and a 5K option.
What was provided at the aid stations? We had water at the 2.5, 5K, 7.5K and then a Fireman’s sponsored pancake breakfast at the finish!
How was the weather? cool, and getting warm: 12 C at the start, with Winnipeg experiencing a May heatwave that reached 36C for a few days while we were there.
My Race Experience: Fairly simple morning: head over to the starting area and as we needed to pickup our bibs, we got there 90 minutes in advance. That was more then enough, and we even got to park the car about 25 meters from the start/finish area. How cool is that? Morning was somewhat cool, so had long sleaves to start.
The 30K and 21.1 started 20 minutes ahead of us, so got to watch those keeners take off in various garb. There was also a Manitoba 100K Ultra taking place in Whiteshell Provincial Park on same day, so many of the keeners were there! Also another run at Assiniboine Park on same morning, so the running community was definately split up at different venues today.
We started at 8:00ish, with a short announcement, and we were off down the still open and very quiet roadway that hugged the East Shore of the Red River. Believe it or not, there were a few rolling hills as we followed the windy bends of this waterway, and we were also treated to flocks of pelicans that hang out in the area.
Water stations every 2.5KM, so we did not need to drink any fluids, and I quickly warmed up during the run. Seeing a few historic sites along the way, we made our way back to the starting area where we got some cheers from the participants, and changed into dry cloths.
Picked up some dandy wooden medals for the 10K, and then used our voucher to get a pancake breakfast that was being put on by the Fire Department. They had a great outdoor cookery going under some tents, and brought the fire trucks too!
Also included in the Race kits was a monthly voucher for icecream at Skinners. A real treat later that week as temperatures soared – and a fine gift to leave behind for my sister and her husband who frequent this tourist spot.
Would you do this event again? If we happened to be in Winnipeg, for sure. Race entry fee was only $25, so lots of value for the run. We also happened to be staying about 15km away, just up the highway, so simple to get to.
Closing thoughts. Any hints for others planning to do this race? Where to stay? Things to bring? What to wear? Well, of course you come here to see Lockport Station, and the famous Skinners Foot Long HotDog in the very retro-diner. Walking into the restaurant you will see photos of many NHL players on the walls, with autographed photos. If you are a hockey fan, you can spend alot of time here looking for players!
Run K2J 