ESTEVAN — Registration is well underway for Estevan's favourite running event.
The 2024 Coal Country Run, the annual spring sports gathering that also serves as a fundraiser for the Fresh Air Fitness free outdoor gym, is slated for May 25, starting at Rotary Hall at Woodlawn Regional Park.
The Coal Country Run offers participants to go on a five-kilometre or 10-kilometre run or walk, or enjoy a 20K bike ride. For those under 15 years, there is a kids' mini mile. The event is organized by Peggy Rohatyn and Debbie Knight, founders of Fresh Air Fitness, and they say it can be competitive or not, depending on how each participant feels.
"It's only as competitive as you want it to be," Rohatyn said.
The 5K and 10K runs or walks will start at 10 a.m., and the 20K cycling through the Estevan pathway system starts at 9:45 a.m. E-bikes are welcome to participate and riders will receive a gift upon finishing, but won't be eligible to claim a place among the winners. The kids' mini mile will head out at around 11:35 a.m.
Run the Course will also feature a free brunch for all participants.
A Cherry on Top will be on location selling ice cream, with part proceeds going towards Fresh Air Fitness. Also, all registered young participants will get a free ice cream, Rohatyn said. Canuckcade will also have a bouncy house set up at the location.
All proceeds go to Fresh Air Fitness – a free outdoor gym located at Woodlawn Regional Park to be used for maintenance as well as new projects this summer.
"We're getting a regular volleyball net set up down there. … It won't be regulation size, but it will be there. That'll be coming this spring. We're also working on our new project this year – disc golf. We've had the go-ahead from the park, and KRJ is making [the equipment]," Rohatyn said, noting that they want to make the game interesting utilizing the park landscape.
She noted that the park will do some work on the parking area, and Fresh Air Fitness volunteers are currently getting some gym equipment cleaned up and ready to go. Aerial yoga classes are set to start in early May.
They also hope to get more users of all ages familiar with the outdoor gym and adjacent park trails this season.
"We're hoping to set up a get-together, inviting people to come down say one morning a week and work out a little bit without a trainer, but there'll be people who can show them how to use the equipment and where everything is, maybe go for a walk through the park and then do a few little things," Rohatyn said. "I think a lot of people don't realize that there's stuff for people of any age to do down there."
Registration for the Coal Country Run is open on the Running Room website for adult runners. For the kids' mini-mile, parents are asked to inform Rohatyn at 306-415-0040, Knight at 306-461-4640) or Henders Drugs about kids' participation, but the registration will be in-person the night before, during the race package pickup at Rotary Hall, and on the day of the event. The fee is $10.
The early bird registration at $25 is open until May 10, then it goes up to $40.
If anyone is interested in volunteering, they are asked to contact Rohatyn or Knight as well.
"We're always looking for volunteers. And if you just want to bike part of it and then volunteer on the biking route, we can find you a spot and you can cheer on the cyclists, and you can still get a little ride in," Rohatyn said.
For the latest updates, follow Fresh Air Fitness on Facebook.
