On your marks for healthy Christmas party

THIS Sunday will see runners converge on Victoria Park in festive dress-ups for the inaugural Christmas Fun Run organised by the Ballarat Run Club.

Race distances include a 420-metre micro-marathon for children aged six and under, to a 13-kilometre event, and all funds raised will support the Ballarat Health Services Foundation and Foodbank Victoria.

Event director Adam McNicol said he is expecting about 250 participants and is hoping to expand the event in coming years.

“We’re pitching the event as Ballarat’s healthiest Christmas party and that’s where we think over the next few years this event can really grow,” he said.

“I think there’s a lot of interest with organisations like schools or healthcare providers who are always racking their brains for what they can do as a Christmas party.

“That’s where we think this idea can really take off. Not everyone needs to run; it’s in Victoria Park, a beautiful place, you can spread out a picnic blanket.”

Led by the organisers of the Ballarat Marathon, the event will provide a chance for participants to chat to experts about how to best prepare for the event and to ask questions.

Free 16-week marathon training plans are available on the Ballarat Marathon website and begin on Monday 5 January.

“A local business called Runners Prep is putting the plans together and they will have a tent at the fun run where people can go up and ask them questions to get some advice on their training,” Mr McNicol said.

“There’s a lot of people that come into running who are new to it, there might be people who have done a five-kilometre or a 10-kilometre before and they want to train for a half-marathon.

“They are all great runners and really great people to chat to.”

To register for the Christmas fun run visit ballaratfunrun.au or sign up on the day.