10th Chum Run takes to the forest this weekend

Time to run with your “chums.” The tenth annual 5K Chum Run and Walk will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 28. The run takes place entirely on the groomed forest trails of South Whidbey Community Park, with separate courses for running and walking.

The kids race starts at 10:45 a.m..

The Chum Run is organized by the South Whidbey Endurance Athlete Community (Down Sound Racing) in partnership with South Whidbey Parks and Recreation. The race is put on by runners for runners, but also encourages walkers and joggers to participate.

The event is a celebration of the long tradition of distance running on South Whidbey and showcases the excellent running trails here at the South End’s community park.

All proceeds of the Chum Run are split equally between the Maxwelton Salmon Adventure and the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund.

This year’s race has quality prizes for the top three men and woman runners and the winning team. Several Seattle running stores have also donated shoes and running apparel for prizes.

In addition to the standard age group competition, an added feature of the Chum Run is the “equalizer team competition” that levels the playing field for age and gender.

Team scoring is by placement in the respective age group. A team can have three or more runners with the top three members scoring. This competition provides an added element of fun because it allows friends and running partners to run together as a team.

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