Hannibal Cannibal early registration deadline is Monday; runners to follow different route this year

HANNIBAL, Mo. — This year’s Hannibal Cannibal will be run on Saturday, July 6 with the early registration discount period ending at midnight on Monday, June 24. People are encouraged to sign up now to save on the registration fee. Register online at hannibalcannibal.com or in person at Hannibal Regional Foundation, 175 Shinn Lane.

The Cannibal, which takes place during National Tom Sawyer Days, draws runners from across the United States. The race includes 5K, 10K and 15K runs, as well as a 5K leisure walk so the race is suitable for all levels of athletes. This year’s race will once again feature the rolling start between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.

The race route will be altered this year due to the closure of Highway 79 for a viaduct replacement project. The race start/finish line will be at the intersection of S. Main and Adams streets this year.  City streets will close starting at 5 a.m. and include S. Main from Washington to Fulton Avenue, and Fulton Avenue from S. Main to Highway 79. Highway 79 will close at 6 a.m. from Union/Adams to south of Continental Cement’s main entrance. Highway 79 will begin opening back up from the south at approximately 8:30 a.m. Traffic from Hannibal’s southside area will access Main from Union/Adams to Sycamore to Washington to Main during the race.

Course maps are available on hannibalcannibal.com and the Hannibal Cannibal Facebook page. 

“This year the race will look a little different with the course re-route.  We are very grateful to everyone who worked with us to help ensure the race could still go on with the viaduct project.  I look forward to next year when we will be back to a normal race,” race director Angie Wilcoxson shared in a press release.

This year’s race is supporting Hannibal Regional’s Heart Hero Campaign, which is raising funds to support Hannibal Regional’s new Heart Center and the new services offered at the center with 100 percent of the race registrations going to the campaign. The campaign is raising funds to assist families in their open heart journey as well as for additional surgical equipment that will greatly benefit patients and their families during and after surgery. Heart Hero care packages made possible through donations to the Heart Hero Campaign are offered to each open heart surgery patient/family which include complimentary hotel stays, food vouchers and more. 

For more information on the Hannibal Cannibal or to register, please visit hannibalcannibal.com or contact Hannibal Regional Foundation at 573-629-3577.