The three dozen runners and walkers from Thompson who recently took part in events at the Manitoba Marathon will have a chance this coming weekend to test their stride a little closer to home, as the Thompson Boys and Girls Club hosts its first half-marathon July 5.
Other events requiring a little less stamina are also planned for the day, including a 10-kilometre run, a 10-kilometre walk and a two-kilometre ice cream fun run.
"They actually do get ice cream at the end," said Kim Hickes, executive director of the Thompson Boys and Girls Club, who will be taking part in the shortest of the four events. "I'm not a runner. I'm going to do the two-kilometre run/walk with my children. I think even the 10-kilometre walk might kill me."
The idea for the half-marathon cam from a local business owner, said Hickes, who approached the Thompson Boys and Girls Club with a potential fundraising plan.
"Their idea was to do a marathon," said Hickes, explaining that the person who raised the idea is a runner. "Their thought was that there were quite a few people in Thompson that participate in other marathons. So here we are today running a half-marathon."
The organizers chose to have four separate events in order to target various levels of runners, from the serious racers who can complete a 21-kilometre half-marathon, to young families looking for a way to get active together.
The half-marathon and the 10-kilometre events begin at 9 a.m. with the fun run scheduled for the afternoon.
"The fourth event will start at 1 p.m. because that's more of a family event," said Hickes.
The fun run will also allow participants who are on wheels, which will not be included in the three longer events. People are encouraged to bring babies in strollers and children in wagons along the two-kilometre route.
Although the event is not the official grand opening of the Boys and Girls Club's new location, it will be an opportunity to let people know they're there.
"It'll start at our new location," said Hickes, giving both participants and their supporters a chance to check out the club's new home at 365 Thompson Dr., where staff will be on hand to answer questions on the Boys and Girls Club's various programs, which are all free.
An official grand opening will be held closer to the end of the summer.
Registration fees range from $30 for the half-marathon down to $2 for the fun run. People can view a map of the routes at Doug's Source for Sports, where registrations will be accepted up until the day before the race. On July 5, latecomers can register at the Boys and Girls Club, with participants in the three morning events asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start.
All proceeds from the races go towards the Thompson Boys and Girls Club.
Hickes said they're hoping this year's run is a success, as she would like to see it become an annual event.
"We've had a lot of phone calls," she said, figuring that the races will attract not only those who like to run, but also people who want to support the cause. "A lot of people will do it just to support the Boys and Girls Club. Hopefully we get a good turnout. We just invite everybody to come out. We'll see if there are lots of runners."
