James Murphy
AN iconic Mount Gambier event makes an anticipated return to the calendar this weekend after a two-year hiatus.
The Blue Lake Fun Run is set down for this Sunday and all signs point towards a successful event.
The last fun run was held in 2019, before Covid restrictions put a halt to operations for the following two years.
According to Blue Lake Fun Run event organiser Trevor Williams, who spoke to The Border Watch this week, numbers for the 2022 event are looking positive.
This year the addition of a 21km half-marathon event has become a drawcard, with a healthy field taking on the more serious distance and a chance at the inaugural bragging rights.
Williams said everything was in place for the fun run’s return, providing there were no surprises from the weather.
“We have quite a few entries, particularly for the half marathon,” he said.
“The response to that has been quite good.
“We are just hoping for good weather.”
Race bibs are available for collection from midday on Friday at the Mount Gambier Library, with online entries closing on Tuesday.
After two non-events, there is plenty of excitement for the return of the run.
“It is great to get the community events up and running,” Williams said.
“People are obviously being affected by the cost of living, so we are trying to offer the best deal we can so we can have fun.
“The half-marathon runners are serious runners, but the rest are fun runners.”
Williams said the 2022 event has attracted athletes from far and wide, particularly with the half-marathon on offer.
“We have people coming in from different parts of South Australia and Victoria,” he said.
“We hope the excitement of running in and out of a volcano will attract some people.”
The Rotary Club of Mount Gambier will have a food van set up at the Cave Gardens, while a coffee van is also expected.
The day will kick off with the traditional warm up run by F45 Mount Gambier, while Williams said all sponsors are entitled to set up a stall if they wish.
The half marathon will have an early start time of 7am, with all runners required to be off the track by 11am.
The shorter distances will have a staggered start from 8-8.30am.
Closures to Bay Road will be implemented from 6am and will be reopened to traffic by 12pm at the latest.
The quicker runners are expected to arrive at the finish line from 9am, with presentations scheduled to start at 9.30am.
Race schedule: 21km – 7am; 10.4km – 8am; 6.8km – 8.15am; 3.4km – 8.30am.
