Mark your calendar. Saturday, June 4, during Action Festival weekend, is the 34th Annual Giant’s Head Run.
It will have a new race start location. This year, both the start line and finish line will be in front of the Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre on Kelly Avenue.
Spectators, get your best viewing spot on Kelly Avenue and watch:
o The Pre-Race Warm-Up just outside the pool on the Summerland Secondary School ball field at 5:30 p.m.
o The 6 p.m. start of the five- and 10-kilometre Giant’s Head Run and final running portion of the Man of Steel Triathlon.
o The spectacular straight-away finish down Kelly Avenue as participants turn the corner from Jubilee Road.
o People of all ages and abilities. Children, teens, adults, parents and grandparents — inter-generations of families partaking in Summerland’s largest recreation event of the year.
The new start race route will allow for more accurate timing and better parking access with the festivities going on at Memorial Park.
Also, re-routing the race to go east onto Main Street instead of along Wharton Street will be an exciting course and a safer direction.
This event draws upwards of 800 to 1,000 participants.
Summerland’s EZ Rock personality, Brad Green, has accepted the friendly headliner challenge against Dave Steinman of EZ Rock Penticton.
Green said, “Being a part of this five-kilometre walk is an important step to better health. It is, after all, ‘The Summerland Action Festival’. It’s not the ‘Summerland Slumber Festival’. Any ol’ lazy sloth could take part in a Slumber Festival. It’s just a reminder to all that physical activity is crucial to both mental and physical well-being.”
Steinman makes his position known, “I’ve been training at a top secret location in anticipation of my showdown with Brad. As the former host of the EZ Rock morning show in Summerland, I feel confident that this race will prove once and for all who’s REALLY this town’s most beloved radio personality. Him…or me! “
The Recreation Department and the District of Summerland would like to acknowledge the 100 or more community volunteers that make this event possible.
Volunteers graciously step up for the tasks of route marshals, aid stations, 3 days of race package pickup, timers for the swim, run, bike and safety services – Fire Department, Police Department, Ambulance.
This is a major group effort to have this event carried out successfully and safely.
All the sponsors and prize sponsors for the event allow registration costs to be affordable at $10 for youth and $15 for adults.
The triathlon registration costs are $15 for youth and $20 for adults (all early bird rates).
Each registrant will receive a t-shirt for the run or long sleeve shirt for the triathlon.
They will also be eligible to win one of the $2,000 worth of door prizes given out at the post race awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Park.
If you register by May 27 you will receive the early bird pricing.
Be part of Summerland’s celebrated race. Register at the Aquatic Centre or online at www.runningroom.com.
Joanne Malar is the program coordinator for Summerland Recreation, three-time Olympic swimmer, 2012 Olympic Commentator, kinesiologist and holistic nutritionist.