Back-2-School Family Fun Run
When: 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 12
Where: Sequim School District stadium, Fir Street.
Cost: $5 suggested donation. Food donations also are welcomed for the Sequim Food Bank.
Registration: 8 a.m., day of race, or pick up registration forms at the Sequim School District main office, 503 N. Sequim Ave.
More info: Call 582-3264 or visit www.sequimeducationfoundation.
Fourth Family Fun Run set for Sept. 12
by ALANA LINDEROTH
Sequim Gazette
Come ready to climb, crawl, jump and run at this year’s annual Back-2-School Family Fun Run on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Stretching on for about two miles, the course of the fourth annual fun run is packed with both familiar obstacles and a few new surprises.
“We wanted to keep it similar to previous years, but also change it enough to keep it fun and exciting,” Stu Marcy, Sequim High School teacher and fun run co-organizer, said.
Given the annual event marks the end of summer and beginning of school, it’s aimed at providing something fun to look forward to, as well as raising money for the Sequim Education Foundation. All proceeds of the run support teaching grants administered through the foundation to teachers pursuing projects and opportunities for their students to augment the daily curriculum.
Last year, more than 100 children and adults participated in the Back-2-School Family Fun Run.
“Every year it seems to grow a little,” Marcy said. “Our goal isn’t to get thousands of people out there, as much as it’s to have fun.”
Marcy is among a committee of six and a group of volunteers that work to make the run a reality. As an avid runner himself, who often participants in organized runs, Marcy enjoys the emphasis on fun while still maintaining a sense of competitiveness.
“I like the addition of obstacles, but it’s still a timed event,” he said. “We encourage people to come with a group and compete against one another.”
Of the obstacles found along the run that starts at the Sequim School District track, and takes twists and turns through the practice soccer fields, along Hendrickson Road, toward the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center, by the middle school before returning to the track, “Homework Hill” is Marcy’s favorite.
The towering stack of straw known as Homework Hill is only one among many obstacles, however, such as Precipitation Pass, Smarter Balance, Olympic Hoops, Over/Under, The Tire Drill, Flat Stanley Limbo, Commando Crawl and Enchanted Forest.
The Enchanted Forest was inhabited by a giant spider that still may be lingering, but this year, Marcy forewarns those planning to enter the forest to be wary of a new creature known to be lurking through the trees.
Although the course is designed to be challenging for all ages, participants wanting to walk the course or skip an obstacle aren’t discouraged to come, Marcy said.
“Really, we just want to give families a fun and healthy activity, a chance to celebrate back to school and raise money for the schools and food for the food bank,” he said.
For those up for doing the challenge twice, a second start time is planned to begin around 9:30 a.m.
Following the run, ribbons for the fastest times and prizes donated by local businesses and restaurants are passed out at the awards ceremony at 10 a.m. Runners are broken into categories based on gender and age brackets, including: under 8 years old, 8-10 years, 11-15 years, 16-20 years, 21-40 years and over 40.
The Back-2-School Family Fun Run is sponsored by Anytime Fitness, the Sequim Education Foundation and the Sequim School District.
Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.
