Fort McMurray runners leave a green footprint in wildfire razed forests

Regrowing burned areas of Fort McMurray's boreal forest will be more of a marathon than a sprint.

And the community's marathon race committee is running with that idea.

More than two years after the May 2016 wildfire, race organizers hope to createa green legacy along communitytrails, which make up asignificant portion of the course.

For the first time in the race's six-year history, every runner who finishesSunday's racewill receive a tree sapling to plant.

WATCH: 'Definitely some emotions when you go through there'

6 years ago

Duration 1:42

Borrey Kim, a trail runner who often wanders off the beaten path, has seen the effects of the rampaging flames but also the regrowth in Fort McMurrays forest.The 2016 wildfire is estimated to have devoured over 700,000 hectares of forest thatll take years to regenerate.The Fort McMurray Marathon hopes to participate in the regeneration by handing out saplings.VIDEOGRAPHER & EDITOR: David Thurton

Fort McMurray Marathon chair Kelsey Stefanizyn said they hope to distribute more than 550 small white spruce trees.

"We really wanted to give ourselves the mandate to be greener," Stefanizyn said. "That tree is just one extra token that can help us have a positive impact."

The 2016 wildfire is estimated to have burned throughover 700,000 hectares of forest.

More than half of the 42-kilometre race course winds through the woods.

In the time since the fire, sometrails have been lost to erosion, said runner BorreyKim. Others have become overgrown because runners tend to avoid areas with charred and fallen trees.

"There's definitely some emotions when you go through there," he said. "Especially if you go through a part where you do witness the aftermath of that fire."

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Over the last two years, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and other organizations have embarked on a tree removal and replanting program, in hopes the forests and nature lovers will return.

In a small way, marathon organizers hope to help with thosereplanting efforts.

Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca