As Old Man Winter creeps down the mountain sides into the Whitehorse valley, the competitive running and walking season is winding up.

Over the past five months, hundreds of Yukoners have participated in almost 20 Intersport 5 km Fun Run and Walks held every Tuesday evening since last May.

Most runners would say that the season started in April, with the annual Law Day Charity Fun Run & Walk. It will finish up with the Yukon cross country running championships on Sept. 30, as well as Yukon Electrical's annual Turkey Trot for charity on Oct. 3.

While almost 50 runners and walkers will continue to train for the Royal Victoria Marathon being held at Thanksgiving, some will persevere during the fall and winter running inside on treadmills and even outside braving sub-zero temperatures.

The cool, rainy weather on Tuesday evening did not deter nine runners and walkers from participating in the last Intersport 5 km Fun Run and Walk of the season. Running a breathtaking pace of 'six-minute miles'', the speedy old lion Bill Matiation was the first male runner with a time of 18:50.

The modest Josianne Markley ran an enviable 7:15 minute-per-mile pace to finish in 22:30. For the third time this season, Markley was the fastest woman. The season's most frequent race walkers, Doris Dart and Lorne Whittaker, crossed the finish line together at 43:25.

The full results from Tuesday night were as follows:

Runners

Bill Matiation, 18:50

Don White, 20:53

Josianne Markley, 22:30

Clarke La Prairie, 23:36

Brian Mottus, 24:37

Sierra Vandermeer, 25:03

Grant Macdonald, 29:31

Walkers

Doris Dart & Lorne Whittaker, 43:25

Athletics Yukon would like to thank Intersport for sponsoring the Tuesday night races.

It would also like to acknowledge all runners and walkers who participated in the Tuesday events as well as the many other races sanctioned by Athletics Yukon over the last six months.

A special word of appreciation goes to official timers Marg White and Nicole Hulstein who each Tuesday timed, cheered on and recorded runners and walkers as they crossed over the finish line.

Submitted by Tom Ullyett on behalf of Athletics Yukon.