Port Elgin’s Nicole Hunter (95), Sophie Hotchkiss (88) and Anna McLaughlin (63) of Kincardine ran a great 10k race, during the 28th Huron Shore Run in Southampton June 4, 2016.

Hub Staff

Runners ready? Then mark June 3 on your calendar for the 29th annual Rotary Huron Shore Run in Southampton. From the picturesque half marathon along the Lake Huron shoreline past Miramichi Bay to the Port Elgin Harbour, to the Kids’ Fun Run down Millard Boulevard, feet will be hitting the pavement to raise money for local initiatives.

Fan zones are new this year and organizers hope that spectators will cheer on their favourite athletes at the two designated zones. June Van Bastelaar said in a May 8 interview that Fan Zones will be operating at South Street in Southampton and along Collard Way by Miramichi Bay. Van Bastelaar said that 98 the Beach morning show host Brian Longmire will be located at the South Street location blasting tunes and providing coloured commentary while Tim Hortons will be providing timbits and coffee.

Canada’s 150th birthday will be celebrated; with a special emblem being placed on every Rotary Run T-shirt to mark the year. At the Health and Wellness Fair at the Southampton Coliseum following the race, there may be a special royal visitor attending the awards ceremony.

Van Bastelaar said the start and finish line may look a little different this year as Enfiled Timing, who provides the race time chips, will be providing a new arch that is sponsored by Bruce Power and will be adorned with logos from the event’s major sponsors.

“The feedback we get is that [the runners] love the course along the lake. It’s one of the best that they enter,” said Van Bastelaar, adding that the committee has discussed moving it but decided against it. “This is why they come here, one of the reasons; and it’s small, they love the small town atmosphere,” she said.

The 2015 year saw the highest number of participants at 850, with a marginal decrease in 2016. Van Bastelaar admitted that reaching past 1,000 participants may be too much as they already draw on between 70 and 80 volunteers, but still hoped that they could grow the weekend experience.

The Huron Shore Run website is promoting weekend events in the area so runners can get involved in other events such as the MacGreoger Point Park Birding Festival and the Put in and Paddle event along the Saugeen River, hosted by Thorncrest Outfitters in Southampton. “It is a community event, so even if you're not walking or running or rollerblading, we want people to come out and just enjoy the weekend; park their cars and have a healthy weekend and all the things you can do in Saugeen Shores to that end.”

Seventy percent of the proceeds from the Huron Shore Run go directly to the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation while 10 percent goes to each the Southampton Rotary and Port Elgin Rotary Clubs and the final 10 percent goes towards the Saugeen Track and Field Club.