By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Many runners have no trouble completing the 3.1 miles in a 5K event. But what if the race was divided into three legs? A relay option is just one of the changes to the Family Fun Walk, Relay, or 5K Run at the 50th Annual After Harvest Festival in Ellinwood in July. Ellinwood Hospital Foundation Director Kristy Rupe and Donna Mason with N'Bloom are co-chairing the event this summer, and AHF Committee Co-Chair Nancy Baird said the gals just wanted to mix it up.
"This year, you have that opportunity to be competitive if you want to run the 5K and be serious about it," Baird said. "If you want to walk the 5K with a group of friends just for the fun part of it and the exercise, you sure can. They've added in the 3-person relay to give more people the opportunity to do it."
The bigger change will be the run's move from early Saturday morning before the big parade to Friday evening. Baird said that should attract more participants, and also help the AHF Committee find more volunteers to staff the event.
"At 7 p.m. registration starts at the Ellinwood Foundation off of N. Main," said Baird. "The run will start at 8 p.m. in front of the Catholic church."
"Back on the Bricks" is the theme for this year's After Harvest Festival, which runs from July 13-15. The 5K run will be Friday, July 14.