Human runners pounding the pavement and trying to beat their best time is such a common sight. But when athletic canines are thrown into the mix, the results are unpredictable, entertaining and inspiring.
Dogs and their people are the ones racing for glory, health and a good cause in the Chase Race and Paws, 8 a.m. Saturday at Simon Park, 850 Front St., Conway.
The event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and the observance is a big one for its founder.
"It's really important to me," says race organizer Don Potter. "Ten is big!"
The race began in 2006 as a memorial to Potter's 13-year-old son, Chase, who had a traumatic brain injury and committed suicide later in 2005.
Chase enjoyed running and loved animals, so holding a race to raise money for Arkansas Children's Hospital (where Chase was treated) and to benefit animal rescue was a perfect fit. Since then, the race has raised more than $100,000 for Friends of Conway Animal Shelter and Children's Hospital's traumatic brain injury research.
It has also become a popular, family friendly party.
"It's become a celebration," Potter says. "I wanted his name to be remembered forever. It means something to me."
There's the standard two-mile Chase Race for runners, a USA Track & Field-certified, chip-timed race that's part of the Arkansas Grand Prix Series. It's often used by participants to check their training and progress from year to year.
Runners and spectators alike would be hard-pressed to find a run like the Paws Race, a one-mile leashed dog race, with runners and their dogs competing for prizes. It's a serious, for-speed, timed race, but for spectators it can be real entertainment.
"We have people just come to watch that," Potter says, noting that dogs are unpredictable and trips and scuffles aren't unheard of. It's also thrilling.
"It's the most amazing, fun thing to see those guys gutting it and those dogs cutting it and to see the spirit and the bond between the runner and the dog. It's awesome."
In all, 160 awards will be given out for runners and walkers. Presenting all those awards is time-consuming. Potter says that this year they're going to expedite the process by making it possible for winners to get their times electronically then pick up their awards at tables right after the races. The winners and winning times will be announced, but there won't be a big presentation of awards.
Registration in advance is $20 per race or $30 for the Chase Race and Paws Race combined ($55 for a family). All prices go up $5 on race day.
Running aside, there are other activities for all ages, particularly for those who like animals. There's a pet pageant with awards for the best pet costumes, as well as hot dogs, pizza and food from Chick-fil-A.
As in the past, adoptable pets will be on site, but Potter says the event will highlight them a bit more this year by having volunteers take the dogs on a walk through the crowds and show them off on stage.
The result will be a morning full of family and pet friendly activities and fundraising.
Says Potter, "To me there's no other more enjoyable, no more unique race than Chase Race."
Call (501) 514-4370 or visit chaserace.info.
In gear
The organizers of the Spa City MTB Endurance Race, 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Glades Park in Hot Springs, are putting a slightly different spin on their annual ride.
This year, instead of a time-based event of six or 12 hours, they're switching to a dedicated distance model of 60K (42 miles) and 21 miles, as a response to feedback from participants.
Organizer Fred Phillips explains, "Looking at it from the aspect of perception, it's a lot easier to understand how to race for 40-some-odd miles than it is to race for six hours.
The race actually starts out on foot, with riders and bikes separated by what Phillips calls "a very steep hill."
He says, "It's a way to get people spread out a little bit before they all hit the trails."
After that, the riders have a starting loop before reaching the 10-mile loop that they'll do four times before returning to the start.
Phillips describes the course as a "standard mountain bike trail," 80 percent single-track, 20 percent double-track with a little bit of pavement.
The Spa City ride is the first race in the four-part Arkansas Mountain Bike Marathon Series that will continue with the Ouachita Challenge in Oden on March 28 and 29; the Iron Mountain Man in Arkadelphia on April 18; and the Mountain View Epic on May 16.
If a 42-mile competitive ride is too much to bite off and chew, there's also a 21-mile, nonpoints tour ride "for [those] looking to stretch themselves a little bit."
Helmets are required for all riders.
The event ends with a post-race party and awards (some cash awards and trophies for top finishers).
Registration is $64 for the marathon race, $35 for the tour. Two-person relay and tandem riders pay $94, and the three-person relay is $114.
Call (870) 246-6686 or visit dltevents.com.
In gear 2
The Colon Cancer Coalition is challenging everyone to "Get Your Rear in Gear" on Saturday to draw attention to a serious but preventable illness that's on the rise among younger Arkansans.
Event manager Nikol Hamilton says the coalition's Get Your Rear in Gear 5K is a footrace designed to raise awareness but also to pay for an educational screening and workshops tour planned for this summer. The run/walk is open to everyone and there will be special recognition of colon cancer survivors.
The USA Track & Field-certified course starts and ends at the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, with registration at 2:30 p.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 3:45 p.m., the run and walk at 4 p.m. and a closing ceremony Saturday.
Registration is $30, $15 for ages 12 and under. Online registration is available through Wednesday.
Call (501) 609-5855 or visit bit.ly/1t7kHIp or coloncancercoalition.org.
New start
The Saline Memorial Health Foundation's The Beat Goes On 5K has been rescheduled due to weather. The race will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday at Saline Memorial Hospital, 1 Medical Park Drive, Benton. Registration is $25.
Call (501) 776-6746 or visit salinememorial.org.
Readers can send tips about wellness-supporting active recreation opportunities to Jennifer Nixon at
jnixon@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 03/02/2015