Runners will have an opportunity to dust up their shoes on Thursday at the season's first trail running meet.

The run, originally planned for the Magnusson Ski Trails on Grey Mountain Road, was recently changed as a result of snowy and icy conditions.

Instead, the course will begin in the education department parking lot at 6:30 p.m., before making its way up the hillside.

Participants will then run along the ridge and turnaround just before reaching Long Lake.

"I don't generally like out and back courses, but this one works because it's all completely dry through there, mostly," said Nancy Thomson, organizer of the Thursday night trail runs. "It will be a nice, easy run."

The trail used on Thursday is about five-km and mostly flat, with the exception of a couple hills, including one at the very beginning.

Thomson said the distance, coupled with the lack of hills makes it a fairly easy run.

Some of the changes this year will include participants running with whistles in case a person gets lost or encounters a distressing situation.

Thomson said she will have 20 whistles on hand for Thursday's run and expects to have to buy more as the season progresses.

She said, however, that Thursday's meet location is pretty straight forward and runners can pretty much see Whitehorse for most of the time, making it difficult to get lost.

Thomson said she is in the process of arranging a discussion led by a conservation officer about bear safety. She hopes to set up the speech for next Thursday's run.

"In the last two years, because we are starting our third season, no one has ever run into a bear," Thomson said. "I have seen lots of bear tracks and whatnot, but none of our runners have ever seen a bear, however they are out there. I think it might reassure some people if they were just given a briefing on what do you do should you encounter one.

"I think it will just be good to give people a refresher about it."

Thomson said she plans on bringing a cooler of chocolate milk for each run. She said chocolate milk is a good recovery drink for athletes who have done an intense aerobic workout.

Some of the longer trail runs in the two previous years have been up to 10 or 12-km. Gatorade will also be supplied at each trail run.

There is no cost to participate in the Thursday trail runs for members of Athletics Yukon, meanwhile, non-members must pay $2 to cover the insurance costs.

Each week, the a different course is used for the Thursday night runs, providing an excellent showcase for the community's trail network.

Thomson said she hopes to figure out the first 10 or 12 locations by Thursday at the latest.

She said the one used this Thursday is probably too short to be among the regulars.

Thomson has high hopes for the third season.

"I'm just really happy because I have had lots of people asking when the trail runs are starting again," she said. "That just shows there's an appetite for people to run on the trails.

"The thing about it is it's a time trial, so you can come out and compete or you can just go for a run, whichever you prefer."