Over the past few years, the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon has attracted the same number of Yukoners as many events held in Whitehorse.

"It is (a similar number), with the exception of the River Trail Marathon, where you have 300; but even of that, you only have 100 and something people that are locals,” Whitehorse marathon mainstay Keith Thaxter said. "So it's quite astonishing really. I've talked to the organizers from Victoria, and they're quite surprised with the turnout that comes from Whitehorse.”

This year's road race, previously called the Royal Victoria Marathon, will attract 66 Yukon runners during the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Three young Yukoners are signed up for the Thrifty Foods Kids Run and Marathon (1.2 kilometres), 14 are signed up for the eight-kilometre race, 31 are registered for the half marathon (21 km) and 18 are registered for the marathon (42 km).

Among those 18 registered in the marathon is Thaxter, who injured his foot earlier this summer.

But that tweak failed to impede his performance in the Klondike Trail of '98 International Road Relay, when he finished first in the ultra category.

"I've been out running and I feel pretty good, but at the end sometimes it's a little tender. So I'm going to go and do it and maybe just see how I feel about half-way and may end up slowing down. But I'm just going to go and give 'er and see how it works out,” Thaxter said.

This year's numbers for the Victoria marathon are down slightly from last year's Yukon contingent of 80. In 2009, the marathon in the British Columbia capital drew 63 Yukoners.

Thaxter pointed out that, as in previous years, that number is likely to change come race day.

"People will come and will go and, basically, if they're injured or have a change of plans they may change their minds. But lots of times, people will register early because there's a discount rate. The earlier you register, the cheaper the price is for registration, so people will commit as well to encourage themselves to train to get ready for the run,” said Thaxter.

One of those training is Tom Ullyett, a staple in the Whitehorse running community, who is heading south to take on the half marathon.

"Yukoners have flocked, literally – considering the time of year – to Victoria for the Thanksgiving weekend … and have done quite well over the years,” Ullyett said following his winning run in the masters division of the Yukon Cross Country Championships on Sunday.

Ullyett, Thaxter and company will hop on the Air North flight chartered to carry the Yukon contingent to the marathon next week.

The group attempted to charter a flight to Victoria a few years ago, Thaxter explained, but got off the ground with it last year.

The flight hosts roughly 120 people, half of which are runners, the other half of which are Yukoners looking to spend the long weekend in a more temperate climate, he said.

"It's good having that option, because if there's a seat still available, unlike when you go to a last-minute booking and you're paying a higher price, the charter is a fixed rate, and it's there as long as there's a seat available,” Thaxter said, adding that Air North also offers hotel deals with the charter.

Ullyett agreed the charter is convenient for the group.

"It just makes it so easy,” he said.

The Yukon contingent is in for a fun weekend in Victoria, Thaxter said.

Aside from the expo, Yukoners have made it a tradition to gather at The Sticky Wicket Pub in the Strathcona Hotel for post-race…refreshments ... which they'll likely have earned after the event.

"The bar will usually reserve a large section of the bar for the Yukon crowd,”

Thaxter said. "And then everyone will come and have a post-party, and that usually ends in a longer, bar-hopping event after. So it becomes a bit of a Yukon contingent going down and enjoying the run, doing other things.”

It's all part of the reason the Victoria marathon appeals to Yukoners.

Thaxter, who has run marathons in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, said Victoria offers "by far” the nicest course.

"Of the marathons, it's well organized, there's a nice expo, they have good food at the finish line, so it's a well-run, organized event, probably one of the best in western Canada,” Thaxter said.

"It just seems to be a good destination for people to visit, and because of that, it just seems to attract a lot of people.

"You don't get anywhere near the number of people that would travel to Calgary or Vancouver. I think if you got a handful from Whitehorse for either of those races, that'd be a lot.”