5K Frenzy runs in February

THE Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club will once again run their special 5K Frenzy event on Friday, 11 February.

Event coordinator Brett Gilligan said the night offers something different for athletes and fans of running.

“We ran it last year we were able to have a 25-metre marquee on the track and have people on the track and cheer, this year we’re hoping to have a couple of food trucks, we’re also hoping to serve alcohol courtesy of the One Tree Club.”

The 2021 women’s race was won by Bendigo-born Ellie Pashley, who competed in the marathon event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while local athletics champion Andy Buchanan was victorious in the men’s race.

Registrations are available via Athletics Bendigo and Gilligan encouraged anyone to come along to the family-friendly event.

“It’s not just for people who do athletics, it’s for anyone really,” he said.

“If there’s people out there getting ready for football or netball in winter, or people who are doing Parkrun every weekend, it’s for them as well.

“It’s certainly not just athletes, we want everyone to come down and run.”

New this year is an under-14-year-old’s shorter distance race, suitable for younger runners who may not be able to finish the full distance.

“Five kilometres is a little bit long for a lot of kids, so the club has put in a one-kilometre run. We’re not sure what sort of interest we’ll get but the option is there,” Gilligan said.

“We’ll hopefully be talking to a lot of schools, and at Little Athletics so kids who run 800 metres anyway can come along and have their opportunity to have a run as well.”

For more information head to bit.ly/3GBSrc0.