Edmonton’s downtown core will be a hub of activity on Sunday, August 17 when more than 8,000 participants and 15,000 spectators come together for the 34th annual Servus Edmonton Marathon. Those numbers will make it the largest event in the marathon’s history.
At the start and the finish line will be Mark Rodgers, known to CKUA listeners as the host of Open Nights. He believes in the power of music, and when people are pushing themselves in the marathon, he chooses the tunes to accompany them on their run.
“I’ve been the finish line DJ since 2014,” says Rodgers. The start and finish line is in front of CKUA’s Edmonton building, the Alberta Hotel, which is across from the Edmonton Convention Centre, and that’s home base for Rodgers as he chooses and shares music for the runners.
The Servus Edmonton Marathon features five race distances. In addition to the full marathon, there is a half marathon, a family run, a kids run, and an Army 10K run. Rodgers notes that he will play music for each start. “I have five or six different starts, beginning at 6am. And I have song-specific starts for each race.”
There are over 2000 runners in the full marathon, and Rodgers says it takes eight or nine minutes for them to get through the start line. “So for that, I play a Creedence Clearwater Revival song called ‘Ramble Tamble,’ because it’s eight minutes long and it really gets going.” The lyrics work well, too. The first line of the song is “Move, Down the Road I Go.”
From there, it’s a full day of activity and music. “The last runners cross the finish line mid-afternoon,” says Rodgers. He takes his role as DJ—and motivator—seriously. “It’s a happy and healthy event, but it’s also hard. People put themselves through some serious punishment, and at the finish line, they’re so happy to be at the end, so I want to play good music for them.”
You can count on hearing Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” and Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” during the day, but there are some deep cuts in the mix as well. “When people are gathering, I want to get them pumped up. I like to throw in the odd weird one. I play a lounge version of ‘Iron Man’ by Black Sabbath, by a band called Lounge Brigade.”
Race director Tom Keogh says, “Music is the heartbeat of the event. Mark brings a master playlist and we identify songs we want to use for the start and the finish. You have to have good upbeat music, and Mark has a good feel for that. He fits in extremely well with everybody.”
Keogh mentions rock and Motown music as popular on race day, and adds, “We cross a lot of boundaries in music. We have runners who are in their teens, but we also have runners in their 70s. The music is diverse, but it has to be energetic.”
Rodgers has had some poignant moments in his time as the marathon DJ. “There are so many inspirational stories. Sometimes friends and family cheer for people, and even help them get across the finish line. Some people are crying, and everyone is exhausted. Finishing a marathon is a big deal.”
Keogh says his goals for marathon day are simple, “We want everyone to be safe, and to feel that they’ve accomplished whatever goals they’ve set. We do this because we want to see people smiling and feeling good when they cross the finish line. It might hurt a bit, but it’s a good hurt.”
Note: There’s also an Edmonton Marathon after-party, presenting in partnership with the Edmonton Downtown Business Association. Come to Rice Howard Way between 10am and 3pm. Grab a patio drink, stroll the street, and celebrate love, community, and connection.
Find info about the Servus Edmonton Marathon at edmontonmarathon.ca
Here’s a song that Mark Rodgers likes to include in his marathon playlist.
