GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – One of the region’s premier races is back in person, after the pandemic made it a virtual-only event the past two years.
Despite a three year wait, Jared Ward made it back from Utah to defend his win in 2019.
“Fell in love with the community, the race and the people that put it on,” said Ward.
Thursday evening, Ward and fellow elite runner Makenna Myler led a two-mile charity run, hoping to get people warmed up for Saturday’s 6.2 mile race.
“It seems a little more conservative here where it’s taken longer to like get the races back and going and getting the community back together,” said Myler. “I think it’s really special to see the community come back together and everyone is super happy to see faces without masks.”
More than 7,000 people are expected to participate in the Bellin. About a thousand people won’t be on the actual course, though. Instead, they are taking the virtual race option.
“I think people are just getting back in the habit of doing events,” said Linda Maxwell, the assistant race director. “We’re hoping that they’ve still been active and getting out there and getting their feet on the street.”
The race’s popularity peeked in 2013 when more than 20,000 people took part. Three years ago, for the last in-person race, more than 11,000 people participated.
“I think we’re going to continue to get back to normal over the next couple of years, but this was anticipated,” said Maxwell.
“I’m excited that it’s happening and excited that as a hospital and a healthcare network that Bellin has the confidence to put on an event like this,” said Ward.
There will be in-person registration Friday night from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Astor Park.
Click here for more information on Bellin Run events.
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