While the weather hasn’t quite hit that level yet, the Perry Park Center is embracing the fall season. The Park Center in conjunction with the Bank of Missouri is hosting the Fall Frenzy Trail Run Saturday, Oct. 9.
“We are hoping that it will be a great day to get out and be outside,” Recreation Supervisor Tessa Bollinger said.
The race is set up a little different than the normal run that the Park Center hosts that go throughout the Perryville City Park. This race will travel on a 5.5-kilometer trail around Perry County Community Lake. the runners didn’t seem to be slowed by the length of the race in the past. Hannah Cooper came in first on the girls side with a time of over 26 minutes, 18.44 seconds minutes. Clinton Rice was the top time for the men at 27:42 in 2018.
“This race has a bit of a different feel than the other events we do over the course of the year,” Bollinger said. “It’s a little longer than a 5K race and it follows more of the trail.”
Despite the name, the leaves haven’t changed colors enough yet to give the event a fall feel, but Bollinger is still expecting a good day.
“I’m hoping that it will be cool for the participants since we start early in the morning,” she said.
The race will begin at 9 a.m., with registration and check in starting at 8 a.m. The registration fee is $25. Each participant that registered before Sept. 29 will receive a t-shirt and swag bag on race day. The official race will be a timed event and a medal will be awarded to the top three in each age division.
Bollinger noted that there are 25 runners signed up right now with several more expected on race day.
“That’s a good number for right now,” Bollinger said. “We want to grow this into a bigger event obviously and that’s what we are trying to do every year.
This will be Bollinger’s first Fall Frenzy run as she is taking over the event for the first time.
“It should be a fun event,” she said. “It’s always nerve racking doing something for the first time, but I’m excited to see everyone. We are expecting some more people not only from Perryville and the local area, but also possibly some runners coming up from Cape Girardeau. I’m really looking forward to it.”
