PASQUIA PARK — Time races as the Tri-Unity Challenge is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
“So we’re planning a few extra things just to celebrate it a little bit. We’ll have a live band and a bouncy castle and it will just be a little bit more festive,” said Miranda Blaber with the marathon planning committee.
The usual races will be there, which includes three kilometre, five km, 10 km and 21 km.
“We have [had] people come pushing strollers; we’ve had individuals come pushing loved ones in wheelchairs and things like that.”
This year for the anniversary they will be getting a nice race.
“New this year we’ll be doing the ‘Almost 10K’ three-person relay,” Blaber said. “Just something a little bit fun to see if we have team entries, people who maybe want to just come and run who maybe don’t want to do a long distance but maybe want to have a good time with their friends. It’s a good opportunity.”
The “Almost 10K” name is a reference to the anniversary – technically the three participants will run a combined nine km.
Any money raised goes back into the communities of Carrot River, Arborfield and Zenon Park, to be used for physical fitness-related programs or infrastructure.
“It’s such an inspiring [morning]. It’s a great way to support a healthy lifestyle, it’s great for yourself to see what you can do,” Blaber said. “I find a lot of people come out and they’re amazed by what they were actually capable of doing, then they come back next year saying, ‘I want to do more because I actually am pretty good at this’ or ‘I can do this’. So it’s actually pretty inspiring to see that.”
The challenge is at Pasquia Regional Park on Aug. 11. People are encouraged to come whether they are participating or spectating.
“With it being our 10th anniversary, we really hope a lot of people show up, register and participate. If you can’t participate or you’re not sure you want to, please come out and just support the event, participate in the activities we have going on, cheer the people who are running and walking and hear the band, let the kids jump in the jump house and just have a little run.”
