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New event in Chemainus a hit with the community

Adding spice to life with a hearty walk worthwhile
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Happy strollers and joggers reach the finish line in the Pumpkin Spice Family Fun Run. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Events like the 5K Family Fun Pumpkin Spice Run on Nov. 10 in Chemainus definitely bring unity and strength to a community.

It may seem like a small event in the big picture, but it carries big-time significance. It’s about getting people together from different walks (or runs) of life who might not normally associate with each other.

There’s also lots who know each other well, too, of course, so it’s a win-win situation all around for creating a great feeling about the identity of the town and the people within it.

Some come from other areas to enjoy what there is to offer here as well.

The preceding Twilight Shuffle Run that ran for many years under the direction of Chemainus native Phil Nicholls, a prestigious marathon runner during his heyday, served that purpose so well.

International calibre athletes came here to take part in that event as well as locals who just wanted to test themselves or get outside for some exercise. The Twilight Shuffle was always held in June in the evening and most of the time the weather was ideal on the cusp of summer.

But good things always come to an end eventually and the Twilight Shuffle faded, well, into the twilight zone.

The Pumpkin Spice Run as a replacement breaks new ground in early November when the weather can be less than ideal. But it worked out perfectly for an inaugural event with spectacular conditions.

With more than 230 people registered, it bodes well for the future of the event. It will probably grow from here and the great thing about it is it’s entirely non-competitive.

No one has to feel intimidated about keeping up a certain pace. It’s up to each individual how fast or how leisurely they want to complete the three-mile course.

The distance is also perfect. Most people can complete three miles of walking in less than an hour so it doesn’t take a long time to get some exercise, help to stay fit and keep moving.

Those are the important things in this day and age to ward off illness as much as possible.



Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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