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Marion chamber to hold inaugural bike race

City will ditch 5K in favor of cycling event in 2017

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion Chamber of Commerce is going to try something different for its big fundraising event in 2017.

Rather than host a 5K run which has shown diminishing results and interest, the Chamber is planning to hold a bike event instead.

“I did away with it (annual 5K) this year because I just didn’t see it as a viable event,” said Tracy Brick, director of member services and events.

In years past, the Chamber held a 5k run road race starting and ending at the county courthouse and going through River Trace.

In 2014, the Chamber switched locations to the sports complex and added a 10K and piggybacked the event with St. Jude and Esperanza Bonanza.

The 5K was underwritten by the city’s Advertising and Promotions Commission (A& P) for $10,000 and drew about 100 runners from all over the Mid- South annually.

Brick said the Chamber gets its money from events, sponsorships and membership fees and needs a bigger event than a 5K run.

“A 5K is just not profitable any more,” Brick said.

Instead, Brick said she would like to try something new and tie it in with the growing popularity of bik- ing and the recent opening of the Harahan Bridge Big River Crossing bike trail.

“I would like to put on either a bike ride or race just to capitalize on the bike path, all the things that are going on,” Brick said. “I think it will bring in more people than the 5K did.”

The race would be about 16 miles and is scheduled for April 1.

“Weather is prohibitive the first part of the year,” Brick said. “And then it gets so hot you really can’t do a lot outdoors. And there is so much going on in the fall it is crazy.”

Brick asked A& P to consider funding the event the same way they sponsored the 5K.

“I’m asking for a sponsorship,” Brick said. “If it is $5,000, I will just do a basic race. If it is $10,000, I will look at adding more things and try to hook it into the Harahan Bridge and make it a bigger race.”

Councilman David Bigger said he likes the idea of a bike race and motioned to provide up to $5,000 to fund the event.

“And if something comes up or you run over we can give you more,” Bigger said.

Brick said she will consult with local biking enthusiasts for ideas, but would like to possibly explore having the race start at the Harahan Bridge trail end.

“I would love to hook it in to the Harahan because that way you can get to Mound City Road and come this way,” Brick said. “So if I could figure out a way to have it start there or end there, I would love to do it.”

By Mark Randall