With temperatures heading downward toward autumn normal, racing season is (dare I say?) heating up! The annual Steady Steve 5K to support Our Father’s Table food ministry got October off to a fast start with plenty of local high school students, staff, and families in action as well as helpers and those helped from the ministry.
Next up on the OKTP calendar is the Batesville Pioneer Invitational high school meet Tuesday at Sulphur Rock Elementary. Junior high boys race at 4 pm, followed by junior girls, senior high boys and senior girls. More than 700 athletes are entered.
Next road race is Heroes For Hope 5K at Cave City Park, 9 am Saturday (Oct. 10) to support The Call of Sharp and Independence counties, a foster care support agency. The New Beginnings Start Here 5K follows Oct. 17, 8 am, at New Beginnings Church in Bald Knob as part of their community outreach festival.
And OKTP is coordinating with local runner Shannon Box on a low-frills Halloween morning race to gauge interest in creating a six-race series of mixed distances and terrain in the area. The Wicked Way 5k at 8 am Oct. 31 will be a simple out and back on Miller Creek Road from the horse arena. The course previously served as part of the For the Love of Running 5K/10K in February 2022. For this one, we won’t have T-shirts, but we will have finishers medals, Top 3 Male/Female overall awards, and simple age group Top 3 M/F stickers for the backside of the finishers medals.
Hope to see you at the races!