Has the change of season made you “Rarin’ to Run” or eager to walk? That’s what Athletics Yukon wants to find out.
The Yukon’s running and walking association is jump-starting the season with its first-ever running expo called “Rarin’ to Run?” on Wednesday at the Old Fire Hall from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“We’re using it as an event to kick-start the running and walking season,” said Ben Yu Schott, a board member of Athletics Yukon. “We are gathering everyone together, so all the key events, from the Klondike Road Relay to the Hash House Harriers, Mount Lorne Mis-Adventure, the Tuesday Fun Runs - basically any events that are coming up, we tried to gather representatives of those events to come and speak about them.”
There will also be representatives from the Yukon Orienteering Association, the Yukon River Trail Marathon, Whitehorse Walkers, an inaugural Yukon Mountain Marathon this summer and more.
The free expo will include a clinic on barefoot running, displays of the latest footwear and clothing by local retailers, a T-shirt swap, information on healthy snacks and draw prizes.
The event will also feature three running workshops hosted by Athletics Yukon head coach Don White. The workshops include one for beginners from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., one on “getting better” the following hour, and one on “getting faster” the hour after that.
White will also give advice on equipment and how to get the most out of training.
“(He’ll) look at what type of fuel you want to use, look at your running gait, your footwear, how to set up a good training regime,” said Schott. “There will be lots of great advice there.”
It will also be a good time to get a season membership to Athletics Yukon. To find out more visit www.athleticsyukon.ca or call (867) 393-3993.
“It will be good for people who are new to town and don’t know what goes on in the running and walking community,” said Schott. “But it’s also for folks in that community who have been around for a long time. I think there will be something for everybody, basically.”
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com