Racing toward the finish line

KELLOGG — We are in the final stretch before the first Jackass Half Marathon & 5K and the excitement is beginning to be palpable.

After months of planning and navigating the COVID situation, the race is set for next Saturday and race organizers are asking for the community to come out and show their support.

“We would love it if we had community members out cheering people along as they run the trail,” organizer Kelton Enich said. “There is also a section along Big Creek that people are really going to need some motivation on.”

The course begins under the I-90 overpass in Wallace and makes its way down the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes with the aforementioned loop up Big Creek so it remains a true half marathon.

Enoch hopes that folks will come out and show support for the first major community event that has happened in the SIlver Valley in some time.

“To have people out, encouraging the runners after such a dry spell will be awesome,” Enoch said.

Encouraging signs, chalking the trail with motivational messages, music, and simple cheering is what Enich is hoping to see during the estimated five hours of total trail time for the runners.

With 370 registered participants, the event is already a success even in the face of multiple changes to the event itself.

Originally the end of the race was supposed to correlate with the annual Radio Brewing block party, the party was canceled, but the race will still end near Radio Brewing where each runner will get a can of beer with a special Jackass label on it.

The race has also adopted a rolling start method to ensure that social distancing measures are at least attempted with the flight leaving Wallace at 9 a.m., community members cheering along the trail are recommended to wear masks when social distance can’t be kept, but otherwise should come out and enjoy the fresh air.

Parked at the finish line will also be a car that is being raffled off by the Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce, a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe.

For the 90 race volunteers, there is a volunteer meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at the gazebo in Kellogg Park.

Registration packet pickup is scheduled for Friday night, as well at the Hill Street Depot. If you are registered, please watch your email or constantly keep up with the Jackass Half Marathon & 5K Facebook page for any updates or changes.

The Jackass Half Marathon & 5K is Saturday, Oct. 3.