If you were planning to run the Yukon River Trail Marathon this year and haven’t yet signed up, you might be out of luck.

The race cap at 325 participants was filled shortly after registration opened on April 1.

The cap exists to improve the race experience for runners and mitigate the environmental impact, said race board member, Jody Eikelboom

“We run on a lot of sensitive trails and don’t want to put too many people on the trails at the same time,” she said.

The trail marathon is a unique race as the majority of the course is on single track trails around Whitehorse.

It is gaining popularity outside of the Yukon and has been featured in a handful of national magazines.

The Trail Marathon has been run every year since 1999. The original course had a much loved and hated section that ran along the cliff-edge at Schwatka Lake, which has been replaced with trail sections around the float planes.

Richard Jancowicz was responsible in those early years for the freshman course and mapping and flagging it. The course has change a bit since it originated, but organizers think this current course is likely the most difficult. But also provides the most winning vistas.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous,” said Eikelboom. “There’s lots of uphills and downhills; twists and turns. It makes the kilometres go by faster, which when you’re running 40 of them, it’s kind of nice that they go by quicker.”

To sign up for the race, the best shot is to post on the Yukon River Trail Marathon’s Facebook page, as they no longer have a waiting list.

Those interested in volunteering can email: volunteer.yukonmarathon@gmail.com

The Yukon River Trail Marathon kicks off on August 7.