A long-running winter running series wrapped up Sunday with smiles, sweat and some much-appreciated donations to local charities.
The 27th Annual Orillia Snowflake Series wrapped up with a 5k race Sunday morning that culminated with an end-of-the-year awards event at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 on Mississaga Street East.
“It was good conditions, not too windy, not too snowy,” said Jacob Lasci, who finished first overall with a time of 18.23.3. “It was a good day for a run.”
The former student of Twin Lakes Secondary School and a track team member said the winter run series is a good way of keeping physically and mentally healthy in winter.
“It’s good to keep fitness up for a strong summer season,” said Lasci.
That’s exactly what Melanie McLearon thinks the event does for serious runners.
“I’m training for a half marathon in February, so this is a good test run for me,” said the Orillia resident, who was running with her friend Laura Walters.
McLearon said there are very few events for serious runners and the Snowflake Series is a great way to come out in winter and meet other runners.
For those who are looking to test out their running times, she said, the 5k is a good quick run to start with.
“The energy is great, everybody is excited to come out and run,” said McLearon, adding it was a lighter run today compared to the last run which was done on New Year’s Day in icy and snowy conditions.
Walters, who has been participating in the run for almost a decade now, said it’s a great way of keeping healthy in winter.
“And it’s for a great cause,” she added, pointing to the fact that the run collects money for local non-profit organizations, such as the Child Advocacy Centre of Simcoe Muskoka, and long-time recipients The Sharing Place.
“Just in the last eight or so years, we’ve received close to $40,000,” said Chris Peacock, executive director of The Sharing Place. “It’s a huge thing to be able to get this much money from them.”
As well, this year, the event collected non-perishable food items for the food bank.
“It includes our top-needed items, such as pasta sauce, canned meat and vegetables, and hygiene products,” said Peacock. “We always say money goes so much further, but getting the food is also important.”
The food bank helps 1,800 food insecure people every month, he said, adding the demand is higher than ever.
“These types of events are vital to maintain our ability to provide food for people,” noted Peacock. “I would like to clarify that some people think we give food to people every day. That’s not true. We give a five-day supply of food to one family one day a month.”
With changing times, he said, the organization is trying its best to provide healthy eating options for its clients.
“So it’s great to be able to partner with events like this that have such a strong connection to health,” said Peacock.
This year, a new charitable recipient had been added to the list, said Jeff Taylor, a member of the organizing committee.
Of all the money raised from the four runs, $4,800 was being given to the food bank and $2,000 to the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, an Orillia Lions Club initiative.
“Traditionally, the main recipient has been The Sharing Place, but we’ve also given to the Humanities 101 program at Lakehead University and to the child advocacy centre,” said Taylor.
The run, he said, has always been popular because of a lack of outdoor running events in winter. Taylor, who had also been a long-time participant, became an organizing committee member four years ago.
“The previous organizer needed some help and we had a large group of people willing to help out,” he said. “We wanted to keep it going and to grow it.”
Taylor estimated that the number of runners has grown steadily in the last four years growing from an average number of 100 participants to almost twice that much.
He said he believes the popularity has increased because of some changes that have been made, such as having a warm headquarters, to which runners can come back and socialize while munching pizza.
That’s also a better option for the prize distribution ceremony, said Taylor, explaining the race has several categories based on age groups and gender.
As well, he said, the introduction of chip timing devices has made it more competitive. Lastly, he said, the team has just been promoting the event a lot more to increase its popularity.
For more information on the event, visit snowflakeseries.com.
