New and old Valley Races offer fitness and fun

A host of local outdoor fitness events and races are coming up this summer for locals looking for a way to get healthy and fit, with returning favorites joining new options open for registration.

The goal of hosting them, said a pair of local race organizers, is to showcase different parts of the Valley while creating plenty of community-based options.

“We want to get people active and have a goal to work towards,” said Robin Rice, who has been a key organizer for Wasilla’s beginner-focused Why Not Tri event. “It’s just good to try something different — why not do something that’s just different or out of your comfort zone?”

Rice, who directed the event for eight years, has this year handed over that job to Heather Hogge, a local triathlete and runner. The race, which will be held June 11 and is still open for registration, was founded to give locals an accessible way to experience a triathlon, she said. And thanks to a short pool leg at Wasilla High School, the race is also very kid-friendly, she said.

Those who want to try a triathlon-style event without any swimming can instead register for the ButteAthalon, scheduled this year for July 23. That race starts at Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm in the Butte. It includes running from the farm to the Bodenburg Butte’s stair side, climbing up and over the Butte, running back to the farm, and then cycling around the Bodenburg Butte twice. The weekend also includes a 5k run July 22, said Janet Dinwiddie, who owns the farm and hosts the races.

“The view is amazing, with the Butte climb you get to the top and you get a whole panorama of the Valley,” she said. “We love it and we want to share our area with others.”

Registration for the Why Not Tri is available via WhyNotTriWasilla.net. Find registration information for the Butte events by searching “ButteAthalon” on Facebook.

For those who would rather just run or walk, the summer is packed with events from road 5ks to mountain and trail races across the Valley, with many hosted and organized by Palmer-based Aktive Soles.

That line-up includes two completely new events: a Backyard Ultra race at Government Peak Recreation area with 4.167 mile trail loops and a 24-hour time cap, and the Veins of Gold Mountain Run heading about nine miles from Government Peak Recreation via the ridge line to the Summit Lake parking area in Hatcher Pass. The Backyard Ultra will be July 16, and the Veins of Gold race will be August 20. Registration for both is available on Aktivesoles.com.

For those looking for a more beginner-friendly option happening soon, multiple 5k races are also planned throughout the area. For example, the free 5k for Life planned for June 18 will be run on the Trunk Road bike path. It raises money for Wasilla’s Heart Reach Center through donations. And the Miles for Meals on Wheels 5k is planned for Wasilla on June 25 on the bike path on Knik-Goose Bay Road. That race is organized by the Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc.

Registration for the 5k for Life can be found on www.friendsofheartreach.com/5kforlife. Information about Miles for Meals on Wheels 5k can be found on www.wasillaseniors.com.