THUNDER BAY — The Firefighters Ten Mile Road Race has opened its registration for the 2023 event, which will see runners again hitting the pavement for an organized race.
For the first time since 2019, hundreds of runners will gather for the race together again after participants were forced to run by themselves or with members of their COVID bubble and submit their times to the organizers.
Race director Herb Daniher said he can barely contain his excitement to see everyone together again.
“COVID was a totally different world. We were sort of boxed in and it really wasn't, you know, you can't credibly call it a race, I mean, basically people did it, but this is live, so here we are,” he said.
“This is the real deal. So now we're back and this is where you want to be on May 22, 2023, you want to be at the start line at Simpson and Donald for the for the firefighters 87th annual race.”
The race will follow the traditional route, heading north up Simpson Street toward Marina Park before returning to the starting point.
The relay event registration is on hold pending the recruitment of additional committee volunteers to the position of Relay Race Coordinator and Assistants.
Organizers said it is critical that community volunteers step up as the relay normally attracts 300 runners which consists of 60 teams of five runners running two-mile legs of the ten-mile course, but Daniher is confident that those positions will get filled.
“You know, we're optimistic that they're, yu know, using we may put out the call and a little bit of a desperation that you know the community steps up. There's lots of people have done this race in the past; It's time to give back, so we're hoping that somebody is going to step up,” he said.
“Other than that, we're locked and loaded. We're going to hit the ground running and we're looking forward to it and the excitement in the community is contagious, so away we go individual registration.”
Those who wish to register can find out how by visiting 10mileroadrace.org
