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Bastion Mile race will precede parade

The Bastion Running Club has organized a new 1.6-kilometre race for Sunday (May 19) just before the start of the Empire Days parade.

Runners will have to go pretty fast at the Bastion Mile, or they might get run over by a parade.

The Bastion Running Club has organized a new 1.6-kilometre race for Sunday (May 19) just before the start of the Empire Days parade, along the downtown parade route.

“Some of the old-timers in the Nanaimo running community said they could remember the day when there used to be a mile race downtown before the parade on the parade route,” said Mike Thibodeau, Bastion Running Club president. “And I thought it was a fantastic idea … and it created some excitement within the club.”

The course comes ready-made with spectators who should inspire runners to fast times, said Thibodeau.

"We'll definitely have some people who will be able to push some pretty fast times on it, I would imagine," he said.

The event is open to anyone, and people can pre-register online at www.bastionrunning.ca. More information can be found at that site including a map of the course and options for downtown parking.

There will be race-day registration at the start line Sunday at Nob Hill Park from 11:30-12:30 a.m. and the race starts at 12:50 p.m. Cost to run the race is $10.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com