Many of the participants of Air North's Family Fun Run had never been on the nine-kilometre trail surrounding the airport – but now that they have, many will return.

The trail follows along the perimeter of the airport, which sits high a top clay cliffs and offers stunning views of Whitehorse curled up against the Yukon River.

"It's been there for years and years and years,” said Debra Ryan, director of marketing for Air North. "It's spectacular when the fall colours come.”

This time of year, the runners were treated to the views of spring as the leaves prepare to push out from their branches.

"You can see spring unfolding,” Ryan said.

She said that many Air North employees bring their running shoes to work with them and use the trail on lunch breaks or afterwards, and she was shocked to find out that they were keeping a little secret away from many Whitehorse runners.

"A lot of people who came told us they had never gone all the way around,” she said of the trail. "It's a nice one for families to walk.”

Now that the 250 run participants have seen the entire view however, Ryan can expect to see a bit more traffic on her lunch breaks.

"The fun runs are a great way to find new trails,” Ryan said, admitting that she tends to utilize the trails in her Porter Creek neighbourhood.

The airport perimeter trail has many different trails that lead off that can add to the nine-kms, Ryan said.

This was Air North's first fun run, and Ryan said they hope to expand on what they built this year – which included more than 1,000 pancakes being flipped for runners, walkers and those who just stopped by for some breakfast.

"It was a lot of fun,” she said. "I think we flipped over a thousand pancakes.”

Ryan said the crowd that attended was a great representation of Whitehorse's community, and a great way to kick off the summer.

"It's kind of something we wanted to do for years,” she said.

Air North's race organizers had hoped to attract families and invite them to join in what the company's employees and their loved ones like to do.

"We want it to be an annual event, a company event,” Ryan said. "This is just a great way to do it.”

The run welcomed families of all sizes, from dads and moms, to grandmas and grandpas. Ryan said the oldest participant registered was in her 70s.

From that extreme, Ryan said they had plenty of families with their kids in tow inside of strollers.

"We did have a lot of small children,” she said.

Following the run Air North will be making a donation to the Learning Disability Association of Yukon.

Ryan could not confirm how much the association would be receiving, adding that the amount will be figured out following the counting of registration fees.

Next year Air North hopes to build on the event, and offer a place for runners and walkers to donate to the association.

"It was a positive experience for us putting it on,” Ryan said.

She added that the run was a great event for such an athletic community.

"Yukoners love running and walking,” Ryan said.

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2010 Air North Family Fun Run results

Runners

1. Colleen Latham 35.22

2. Keith Thaxter 36.33

3. Tom Ullyett 37.17

4. Sheldon Lyslo 37.38

5. Sandra Holzinger 37.42

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Walkers

1. Kaden McLelland 56.00

2. James McLelland 56.00

3. May McBride 56.05

4. Matthew McBride 56.05

5. Matthew Blakesley 102.16

6. Jannine Blakesley 102.16

7. Christopher Blakesley N/A