Small races: Size does(n't) matter

Now that we're over the Chilly (yay!) and before we get into Mississauga, I've just gotta say: It isn't always about the big races. Small is fun, too.

A few shorter races are on our radar. Most of you know about Alfie Shrubb on June 1st. At the Chilly, we also learned about a new fall race just for walkers. More about that in a bit.

First, the race coming up soon: Harry's Spring Run-Off in High Park, Saturday, April 5th. It's available in two flavours: 5K and 8K. And, yes, I'll admit both have hills. But they are manageable, especially in the 5K -- which was the first race I walked in Spring 2006 after breaking my ankle just a few months before.

2008 is the 30th anniversary of this race and all participants will receive a rather cool looking green sports cap. 8K finishers also get a medal. Starts at 10 am (11 am for the 5K), pancake breakfast follows. And, even better: 100% of Entry Fee for the first 2500 entrants goes directly to Prostate Cancer Research. It's a good cause. Think about this one.

The fall race is the brand new Kitchener Waterloo Walking Classic, September 28th. For walkers only! A 5K or 10K event benefiting a mental health cause, Minds in Motion. We all agree that walking is good for our mental health, which is the message the organizers are hoping to promote. This claims to be the only race in Southern Ontario dedicated to competitive walkers, of all persuasions. So perhaps we should give it our support.

Whether you are working these into your training for longer races or simply looking for a shorter event to aim for, there's lots to choose from. You can find links to all the races I've written about in our blog in the right column of our website.