The Crazy Days Half Marathon and 5k run is this coming weekend, Saturday, August 7 at 7 a.m.
The race is a fundraiser for the Perham High School cross-country program. Along with Organizer and Cross-country Coach Jeff Morris, the idea is the culmination of an plans from cross-country parents.
"We thought we had a good place to do it around the lake," Morris said.
The half marathon and 5k stem from a 5k race the group had been doing on past Labor Day weekends.
"One of the reasons for doing it with the Crazy Days week was to bring in more people with the shopping weekend," said Morris. "We also thought it could bring in people that wouldn't normally be coming to Perham during Crazy Days."
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Proceeds from the races, aside from boosting the CC program, provide a scholarship and aids with the expenses of an annual summer camp Morris runs in Bemidji at Bemidji State University.
With help from cross-country boosters, the races also fund two big overnight trips for the entire team,
"We take 60 kids to a meet. Pay for hotel and a team meal. We want to be able to pay for that," Morris said.
Morris' cross-country program is almost a lock for state each year. He also boasts of a junior high program that hasn't lost in the last four years.
"I'm going to have one of the best boys team I've ever had this year."
Race day registration is available. $25 for the 5k and $40 for the half marathon.
The race is USATF certified, which means it can count for a half-marathon Olympic qualifier.
There will be championship timing, not handheld timing.
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Winners of half marathon win a pair of Mizuno running shoes. Other prizes will be given away and massages are available after the race.
Each finisher receives a t-shirt and every half-marathon finisher will receive a medal.
Both races have overall and age group medals.
