o What: A 10-kilometer, 5-kilometer and new 1-kilometer Cub Run to celebrate the new year from Get Bold Events.
o Where: Battle Ground Village, 819 S.E. 14th Loop in Battle Ground. Races start at Battle Ground Village, head south along Commerce Avenue to Eaton Boulevard, then west toward Highway 503. The 10K route continues south on the path along 503 before turning around and heading back to Battle Ground Village. The 5K course turns north on Parkway Avenue before 503 and loops runners east on Rasmussen Boulevard toward Battle Ground Village. Water stops are provided every 1.5 miles.
o When: Sunday, Jan. 4. Registration opens at 8 a.m. 10K starts at 10 a.m., 5K starts at 10:05 a.m. and the 1K Cub Run starts at 10:45 a.m. Runners and walkers welcome.
o Cost: $45 for 10K and 5K runs, $20 for 1K. Package includes a T-shirt, coat check-in, goodie bag and a post-race party.
o What: A 10-kilometer, 5-kilometer and new 1-kilometer Cub Run to celebrate the new year from Get Bold Events.
o Where: Battle Ground Village, 819 S.E. 14th Loop in Battle Ground. Races start at Battle Ground Village, head south along Commerce Avenue to Eaton Boulevard, then west toward Highway 503. The 10K route continues south on the path along 503 before turning around and heading back to Battle Ground Village. The 5K course turns north on Parkway Avenue before 503 and loops runners east on Rasmussen Boulevard toward Battle Ground Village. Water stops are provided every 1.5 miles.
o When: Sunday, Jan. 4. Registration opens at 8 a.m. 10K starts at 10 a.m., 5K starts at 10:05 a.m. and the 1K Cub Run starts at 10:45 a.m. Runners and walkers welcome.
o Cost: $45 for 10K and 5K runs, $20 for 1K. Package includes a T-shirt, coat check-in, goodie bag and a post-race party.
o Info: resolutionrun.getboldevents.com
o Info: resolutionrun.getboldevents.com
New Year’s resolutions can run a little hot and cold — and it turns out so can New Year’s runners.
The Resolution Run in Battle Ground, presented by Get Bold Events, has opportunities for participants to experience both the freezing cold of an outdoor ice slide and the sweat-building heat of a 1-kilometer, 5-kilometer or 10-kilometer race.
And then there are the hot tubs.
Wait. Hot tubs?
“We’re kind of off the beaten path in Battle Ground here, and we wanted to find some ways to bring more people out,” said Elba Benzler, the event organizer. “First I thought of those Polar Bear events where people like to jump in freezing water, so we built a big, very cold Slip ‘n Slide. And after that Morton’s Spas donated a couple hot tubs, so people can jump in to warm up again.”
The races are open to all and are great for both experienced runners and new runners — along with families, said Justin Ashworth, who last year ran the 5K with his 8-year-old son.
“It’s a fun race,” Ashworth said. “It’s nice and family friendly. And it’s low key. There’s not a lot of crazy competitors. It’s a resolution run. It’s about starting new fitness trends.”
Newcomers are welcome to sign up on race day. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Benzler and his girlfriend and business partner, Karen King, launched the Resolution Run five years ago as a way to have fun and support local charities.
“She and some of her personal trainer friends put it together in the first year, and then I asked if I could help the second year,” Benzler said. “I thought ‘Hey, I’ll get prizes and we’ll build it up.’ “
In the first year, about 50 people participated. The second had about 125. Last year, it grew to 515 — and there’s room for plenty more this year, he said.
The event also includes a swag bag with a T-shirt, medals for participants, a pancake brunch, live music, hot chocolate and a beer garden with brews from Battle Ground’s Northwood Public House & Brewery.
Proceeds go to support the Battle Ground fire cadet program and its annual trip to New York and Washington, D.C.
“They’re mostly high school kids, and I just adore them,” Benzler said. “They’re so polite, really helpful. The cadets are great kids.”
Last year, the race netted about $1,000 for the cadets. This year, Benzler said he hopes to raise even more.
“We’ve got plenty of room,” he said. “We want this to be a really fun community event.”
Spectators are also welcome, and can pay $4 for all-you-can-eat pancakes and $5 per beer.
“It’s really fun to just hang around and watch people on the Polar Bear Slide,” Benzler said. “We actually get a lot of spectators.”
The 1K Cub Run is also a great spectator event, with parents following their youngsters along the path, cheering and taking pictures.
“It’s just really funny and cute,” Benzler said.
Ashworth said his daughter really enjoys the Cub Run. One of the things he enjoys is watching Benzler go down the Polar Bear Slide every year, he added.
“Elba, he kicks it off, he’s sort of the life of the party,” Ashworth said. “It’s a fun community event. There’s a real festive mood, and it’s really non-threatening for people just getting into it.”
