Trail race with a twist to benefit School District 60 school’s track programs

CHARLIE LAKE, B.C.  — Trail runners of all ages are being urged to descend on Beatton Provincial Park north of Fort St. John this weekend for a race – with a twist.

The Battle of the Beatton is organized by the athletic departments of Bert Bowes Middle School and North Peace Secondary School with proceeds to benefit the track and field and cross country programs of both.

But, there’s a catch: according to the event’s Facebook page, a “handicap system” will centre around age and running experience.

Megan Bell, the athletic director for Bert Bowes Middle School, told Energeticcity.ca funds will go toward the cost of trips to events, such as school zone competitions in Williams Lake and provincial championships in the Nanaimo area.

“[It] is an incredibly expensive trip to make,” said Bell. “Because it is so few athletes that we send, the expenses are quite high for each individual athlete. We are trying to offset some of the costs in a healthy way that includes the community.”

Bell named Steve Toews as the “conceptualizer” of the event. Toews has a child involved in the cross-country program at Bert Bowes and said he is an avid runner and takes in the trails at the park “all the time.”

He presented the idea to have the race run in intervals based on experience, looking at the Dipsea Race in California as inspiration, saying the race has a staggered start but mass finish.

“I definitely had a dream that I wanted to come together,” explained Toews. “I’m really nervous it’s going to be chaotic. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I hope it goes good enough that people want to come back and we can grow it and get better at putting it on every year.”

Toews says it was an entire team who took part in the planning, with not just administration but students preparing the trails to run on Sunday. 

“There are so many people that have been involved in it, from helping make the trails and come up with the idea and brainstorm,” said Toews. 

To encourage families to come out, there are two distances: the five-kilometre event will be a traditional race, while the 12-kilometre run will involve the staggered starts.

Promoted as a family-friendly event, bouncy castles and childcare for younger kids will be available at the event.

Awards will be handed out for first finishers, fastest times and the top-placing family. 

Registration is $40, or $130 for a family of runners. Festivities will start at 8 a.m. on Sunday, October 5th at Beatton Provincial Park at 248 Road in Charlie Lake.

To register, visit the event’s registration website.