Run the Parkway to serve as CIM tune-up
The Sacramento Running Association, organizers of the California International Marathon, has partnered with the American River Parkway Foundation to bring a new fall race to Sacramento. The inaugural Run the Parkway event will be held on Saturday, November 5.
Run the Parkway will feature a 20-mile run, a half marathon, a 5k and an untimed 3k fun run and nature walk. All distances will start and finish at William B. Pond Recreation Area in Carmichael and will be run entirely on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail.
Proceeds from Run the Parkway will benefit the American River Parkway Foundation to help further its mission of supporting the preservation and enjoyment of the Parkway.
"The Sacramento Running Association is thrilled to use our resources and assets to put on an event that can galvanize the local running community around our shared appreciation of the American River Parkway as an invaluable resource for runners and a cornerstone of what makes Sacramento one of America's best cities for runners," SRA Executive Director Scott Abbott said.
"The event was borne out of an inevitable and necessary partnership between the American River Parkway Foundation and the Sacramento Running Association.
"The American River Parkway is arguably the most important resource for local runners, and local runners make up one of the largest user groups of the American River Parkway.
"It is a natural and important opportunity for these two organizations to come together to put on an event that can bring together the local running community to support and celebrate the Parkway in a meaningful way."
The Sacramento Running Association and the American River Parkway Foundation have been working together since 2009 to bolster access for runners on the American River Parkway.
"Our partnership has allowed the equestrian-running trails to remain open and clear of invasive plants," said American River Parkway Foundation Executive Director Dianna Poggetto.
"With the addition of the Run the Parkway event, runners who train on the Parkway will be able to give back to this fabulous asset and support both organizations."
Abbott added that the event is strategically scheduled to bring local runners together to support the Parkway at an important time as it relates to their usage of the American River Parkway.
Run the Parkway will be held four weeks ahead of the region’s most popular running event, the 34th annual California International Marathon.
"Sacramento runners training for CIM run every weekend on the Parkway, so we hope they will take advantage of the opportunity this race provides to run for the Parkway," added Race Director Eli Asch.
"As passionate runners ourselves, the SRA Race Operations team is looking forward to the chance to put on a race benefiting this treasured training venue - one that we have all logged so many miles on ourselves."
Run the Parkway will serve as the Official Training Run of the California International Marathon.
"With the same nutrition and hydration at its aid stations as at CIM and pacers for every Boston qualifying pace, Run the Parkway will truly earn its status as the Official Training Run of CIM," said Asch.
"Four weeks out from CIM, Run the Parkway is perfectly timed for runners to get in their last quality long run and test their race day pacing and nutrition plan in a controlled setting."
Proceeds from the event will support American River Parkway Foundation programs specifically focused on usage for runners including bathroom maintenance, trash removal, trail maintenance and patrol and safety efforts.
Registration is available at RunTheParkway.org. Cost for the 20-miler and the half marathon is $55 online through July 27, $65 from July 28-September 21, $75 from September 22-October 26, $85 from October 27-November 3 and $90 from November 4-5. The 5k costs $25 through July 27, $30 from July 28-September 21, $35 from September 22-October 26, $40 from October 27-November 3 and $45 from November 4-5.
The untimed 3k run fun and nature walk is free to kids 12 and under until November 3 and $10 at packet pickup and on race day. The cost for adults is $20 until November 3 and $25 at packet pickup and on race day.
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
Other SRA events include the the 34th annual California International Marathon on Dec. 4 the Super Sunday Run on Feb. 5, the Credit Union SACTOWN Run on April 2 and the Gold Rush 50k on May 14.
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