Loopy Trail Run first of many events on trail

Participants can register up to race time, and as of this morning, 56 people have registered for Fairfield Park and Recreation Department?s Loopy Trail Run.

?It?s a unique run. It?s more than half a marathon,? said Steve Pedrick, new co-chairman with Ryan Meyers of the Jefferson County Trails Council.

Pedrick plans to run the 16-mile course (the Fairfield Loop Trail that circles Fairfield) that begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Jefferson County Maasdam Barns and Welcome Center. Parking is available at Jefferson County Health Center.

?It will be a challenge,? said Pedrick. ?The longest I?ve run before is 7 miles. I?m looking forward to it. This is the type of event we?re hoping to host on the trails and promote the trails now that the loop is completed.?

Pedrick and Meyers both are interested in holding more trail events in the future.

?It?s the next phase,? said Pedrick. ?We?re just getting started, and we?ll see how this goes.?

Derik Wulfekuhle, director of park and rec, also is looking forward to race day.

?We?re having a half-mile walk/run around the pond near the Jefferson County Health Center for those under 17,? he said. ?It begins at 8:30 a.m.

?Then the 18-and-older race can be run individually for 16 miles or in three-member relays.?

Wulfekuhle is participating in a city workers? relay for the race.

?Second and third relay team members will need to drive to the transition points, which are Whitham Woods and Pleasant Lake, each has parking available,? he said.

?Something like this is a great event to offer. We?re already past the registration deadline to ensure a T-shirt, but we?ll still take registrations. We?ve had participants from out-of-town sign-up.?

Volunteers will man nine water stations along the trail and others will ride utility vehicles up and down the trail to monitor runners.

?We have medals, ribbons and gift bags to award after the race,? said Wulfekuhle. ?We?re hoping to make this a good experience.?

He said park and rec department and the trails council take suggestions about what events to host.

?A mile bike race has been suggested on the trails,? he said. ?We?ve had the Turkey Trot and have held about four events in a year so far.?

Entry fees are free for the under-17 walk/run; $35 per individual; and $50 for a relay team of three.

Registration can be done online at www.fairfieldparksandrec.com or by calling the recreation center at 472-6159.