Resolution to run
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Tillsonburg residents and members of a local running group called Sole Mates got a running start to the New Year.
And for them, there was no better way to welcome 2013 than on the right foot, with the third annual Tillsonburg Resolution Run Friday evening.
“It’s just basically to get everybody together that enjoys running – even some new runners are coming out,” said Rick Beernaert, co-organizer of the event, filling in for his sick wife, Sandra. “We’re having a 5-kilometre run tonight, or people can go a shorter length of 2.5 kilometres and they can walk if they want to.
“We also asked all the runners to donate to the food bank for the run.”
The 2012 Tillsonburg Resolution Run appears to have exceeded last year’s donation to the Helping Hand Food Bank in Tillsonburg and began and finished at Niko’s Eatery & Bar downtown.
The annual event was a good way for many local runners to kick-start the New Year and possibly a new year’s resolution of maintaining a regular running routine. Between 25 and 30 men and women of all ages came out for the resolution run, with some expected participants coming in from across the region including Port Dover and the St. Thomas area.
Tillsonburg resident and Sole Mates member, Karen Horeth was one of several local runners taking part.
“I’ve been running with Sandi for quite a few years now, she’s quite the organizer and she gets us all motivated,” said Horeth, noting a few of the reasons why she joined the Sole Mates running club and why she partakes in the resolution run at the end of December each year.
“It’s a great opportunity to get out with other runners and socialize with other runners in town, maybe ones that I don’t run with regularly. I love running and I’ve been a distance runner for probably almost 18 years, so I really enjoy it.”
For many who came out Friday, it was a chance to get a head start on their 2013 New Year’s resolutions, and for Horeth, there is one resolution in particular she hopes to accomplish in the coming year.
“For this year, in 2013 it will be to do a decent job in the 30 kilometre ‘Around the Bay’ race, which is in Hamilton. It’s at the end of March. I’ve been training with Sandi and a few of the people here tonight. I hope to do really well and perhaps run up that killer hill at the end of the race.”