- by Jon Farmer
On Sunday morning more than 450 people laced up their running shoes to participate in the 9th annual Bayshore Race to support the Owen Sound Hospital Foundation. For the first time ever, Sunday's race began at the hospital itself. Previous races have started from the Harry Lumley Bayshore and headed north towards Leith and Annan but ongoing construction north of the water treatment plant forced organizers to relocate for the 2018 race. This year, participating runners and walkers headed west fromm the hospital along 8th street before turning on to the Rail Trail. The same course will be run for the next several years as construction projects are slated for the historic 3rd Avenue and Bayshore Road course during that time.
Participants could choose various distances and paces to accommodate entire families. Organizers reported that the youngest participant was two years old and that the eldest was well into their seventies. An entire youth soccer team and their parents were spotted competing in the 5km race and the parents posted respectable times as they chased their young athletes. Runners had the choice of 1/2 marathon, 10, or 5 kilometre distances. Walkers and race walkers could choose between 10 and 5 kilometres, and children had the chance to run a fun one kilometre. In some cases, entire sports teams and their families participated and the youngest runners crossed the line with flushed and smiling faces.
The full race results will be posted soon at the event website. Notably, a 30 year old woman set a new course record for 10 kilometres and received prize money for her effort.
In all, more than $40,000 was raised and will contribute to the purchase of 11 new anesthetic machines for the hospital. All of the money raised benefits the Owen Sound Hospital Foundation which was first founded in 1982 to equip what was to be the first new Owen Sound hospital in 93 years. The foundation continues to raise funds for equipment purchases and updates. More information about the foundation and their annual fundraising events can be found at www.oshfoundation.ca