Run the Dam will add to Harvest Festival

Lace up your running shoes, Run the Dam 2018 will be held on Sept. 15.

Participants can walk or run a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon distance, beginning on the east side of the Grand Coulee Dam, running across the largest concrete structure in North America, through "Old Grand Coulee" along B Street, and back along Banks Lake, finishing at North Dam Park, where Harvest Festival will be taking place.

Kelly Buche, who is in her third year organizing the event, is expecting about 220 people to participate, about a 30 percent increase over last year, she said.

"I'd always thought it was an interesting run," Buche said. "I didn't start running until I came to the Coulee. I love it; I really love it."

Buche said the youngest person signed up this year is 8 years old, and the oldest is 75, but that she had an 89-year-old one year. She said running is most popular in the 30-50 age group.

Participants will get T-shirts and "swag-bags" that include bottle openers and cups and shiny dam-themed finisher medals. "The T-shirts and swag are top notch," Buche said.

The event draws in about $10,000 in local business support for the medals, shirts, and more, she added.

People can also put $20 towards sponsoring a child, so they can participate and get a shirt.

Registration costs between $20 and $60.

"We can still use volunteers for before, during, and after the race," Buche noted.

To register or for more info, those interested can go to http://www.runthedam.com or email info@runthedam.com.