Runners to test skills at Cross Border Challenge 10K

AMHERST - Paul Giroux loves to run, but he could never figure why there hasn't been any running events in Amherst, the geographic centre of the Maritimes.
That will all change during the inaugural Four Fathers Festival in early July when the first Cross Border Challenge 10-kilometre run is held.
"I have raced in other parts of the province and New Brunswick and was a little embarrassed that we didn't have a similar event in this part of the province," said Giroux, the race director for the July 4 event. "Since I'm on the board for Run Nova Scotia I felt a bit of an obligation to bring an event to Amherst."
Registration will begin at the Cumberland YMCA, with buses transporting participants to the entry point at St. Mark's Anglican Church on the Mount Whatley Loop Road in New Brunswick for the race start at 8:30 a.m.
The race will see runners come across the Eddy Road-Mount Whatley Road to the Fort Lawrence Road before crossing the marsh and entering Amherst on the Eddy Road and Brownell Avenue. The event ends at the Cumberland YMCA followed by an awards ceremony and barbecue that afternoon.
Giroux said plans for the race took off last year during the municipal election campaign when Mayor Robert Small indicated he wanted to have a summer festival and attach a run to it. The response, he said, has been good with 49 registered runners, including 35 local entries.
"Word of mouth about the race has gotten around. There are still a lot of people who have talked about registering have yet to register," Giroux said. "When I originally started planning the event I was hoping for 100 runners, but now I think it will be more like 150-200 and that's excellent for a first time event."
The run will be part of the Run Nova Scotia and Run New Brunswick circuits.
"It's a point series event that will bring out a number of good runners," he said, adding he is most impressed with how many local runners have registered. "I estimated we would get 20 local runners, but now I think we have 35."
Giroux said a number of community groups and organizations have also come on board and registration fees will go to support the YMCA.
With just a few weeks left to go before the race, Giroux said there are about 40 to 50 volunteers helping out. The organizing committee is hoping to have 100 volunteers in place. Volunteers will receive a run T-shirt and be included in the post-race events. There will also be a number of prizes drawn for.

dcole@amherstdaily.com