A socially distant run

Run at your own pace, run at your own time, while keeping your distance from everyone else.

This is the way road races are run during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

The 2020 Huckleberry Run is on again, only it will be when you want to run it during the weekend of Aug. 14-16, on a course that has been marked out new specially for this year, according to long-time event organizer and running aficionado Sarah Naegeli.

The course, which will be well-marked and laid out in a somewhat similar fashion compared to what it has been in the past, will be 5K as always, only it will be steered away from along the highway more than in previous years. The start/finish line for this year’s Huck Run will be at the Trout Creek School.

Naegeli and her associates in the Clark Fork Valley Running Club (CFVRC) will have the course marked out and ready to run by Friday, Aug. 14. Timed results from each contestant’s socially distant run will then need to be turned into the race directors by 9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16.

The honor system will be, well, honored. “We’re trusting runners to record their own time and turn it in to the CFVRC,” Naegeli said. “We’ll compile the results and post them.”

Mired in the misery of the COVID-19 nightmare of 2020, there was some doubt that the Huck Run would even be held this year.

A when-you-want-to-do-it event for the first and hopefully only time in event history, the mere running of the event this year is the main thing in these special times.

“Most importantly, although it’s in a different form, the Huckleberry run will go on this year, as it has for 40 years!” Naegeli said. “We’ve done our best to set this up to keep the tradition going, while still trying to keep everyone safe and healthy in this uncharted year.”

Naegeli said running with partners or groups will be allowed. Of course, you can go it alone as well. “If you’d like to keep your social distance and run (or walk) by yourself, enjoy the course and the solitude. We invite all to join in!”

As always, donations will be gladly accepted by the CFVRC, as it benefits the club. “The Huckleberry Run is our big fundraiser, and this helps sponsor other running activities, scholarships and many other things,” she said. “For a minimum $20 donation you will get a Huckleberry Fun Run t-shirt.”