Huron River Fest Virtual 5K starts Sunday

HURON — The Huron River Fest's annual 5K run set for July 11 was canceled due to coronavirus concerns, but the race committee has made plans for a virtual 5K. The Virtual 5K, one of five races in the Huron 5K Challenge Series, will be held next week, anytime from Sunday through July 11. Runners and walkers can complete the distance on their own time, walking or running outside or on a treadmill or even by riding a stationary bike. "We didn't want to lose the series if possible," said Bill Scott, one of the River Fest 5K committee members. "We thought it was a way to keep our name out there and not lose the people who really wanted to stay in the series." Registration for the virtual 5K is $20 and can be done at www.huron5k.com. There will not be age group awards or overall finisher awards. Each participant will be given a special medallion plus a T-shirt and a bib number. There also will be category awards for the most family participation, best costume, oldest/youngest participants, and furthest from Huron. After registering, participants are asked to send 5K times and documentation to scottcc8@yahoo.com to be counted as a participant. "You couldn't do this five, 10 years ago. With the technology it makes it very user friendly," said Scott, who is joined on the race committee by Gary Payne, Gene Capizzi and Wayne Orndorf. The rest of the Huron 5K Challenge Series is pending. Upcoming races still scheduled: Aug. 8, Abbey Rose Foundation trail run; Sept. 19, BGSU Firelands trail run; Oct. 31, St. Peter's Spooktacular; and Nov. 26, Judy Lively Turkey Trot. Money raised from the event benefits the Huron track & cross country scholarships and Young Life of Erie County.