Saturday is the 5th annual Mountain Bay 5K run/walk put on by the Shawano Optimists.
Like previous years, the run will begin at Kuckuck Park at 8:30 a.m., but unlike previous years, they’ve added a run for a different age group.
“We start out with a 5K and a children’s run, but this year we’ve added in a youth run,” says Shawano Optimist member Ron Schmalz. “We visited with some community members and they were saying we were kind of missing that middle-age group from 14 down, so we’ve added a youth run this year. It’s just slightly over a two-mile run for the youth.”
Anyone is encouraged to participate.
Although the deadline to pre-register for a t-shirt was on July 17, participants can still register the day-of the event. Schmalz says a number of people who have already pre-registered can pick up their shirt the day before the event also.
“For those that pre-register and like to pick their packet up the day before the race, we will be available we will be available at Cooperative Resource International in the resource center room from 11 [a.m.] until 2 [p.m.],” he said. “People can come and pick their packets up and/or they can pre-register that way also. It’s a way to get everything taken care of the day before the run.”
The Mountain Bay run can be a competitive race, or just a time to enjoy a walk on a beautiful Saturday morning. Either way, the money raised by the Shawano Optimists will go towards helping youth programs right here in the county.
“The money that we are able to raise through our fundraisers do stay with different youth organizations here in town. I’m estimating that we donate to 25 or 30 different youth programs,” Schmalz explained.
For those still to register, it is $20 for the 5K run/walk, $15 for the youth run and $5 for the children’s run.