Although a week later than usual, runners from across the Foothills are set to gather in Okotoks Saturday for the 37th annual Sheep River Road Race.

While the race usually goes during the Labour Day weekend, Richard Ellum with the Sheep River Road Race says it was bumped back a week this year in order to entice more students to run.

"The schools aren't in, or we can't get to the schools and encourage the young people to get in there," he says. "So, that's why it was moved to Sep. 12, and there's been a lot of promotion in the schools, and also with the Okotoks Parade of program and encourage more young people"

Ellum says aside from bringing runners of the Foothills together, some of the money from registration fees will benefit one promising young runner.

"The scholarship is a Big Rock Runners award, which is a $500 award that goes to a graduating Grade 12 student that either lives in Okotoks, or goes to school in Okotoks," he says. "We're not looking for the top star runner, we're looking for someone who is fairly dedicated to running, and has shown themselves to be a good team person and also is involved in the community."

The Sheep River Road Race goes Saturday at John Paul Collegiate, with the under 12s starting at 8:30 a.m. and the five and 10 kilometre races kicking off at 9:15 a.m.

Ellum says the race mostsly sticks to pathways other than two road crossings, so the effect on traffic will be minimal.