Hundreds of runners expected for 89th annual Fire Fighters Ten Mile Road Race
Event scheduled for May 19 in Thunder Bay; volunteers needed
Hundreds of runners are expected to hit the streets of Thunder Bay this month for a long-running annual race.
The 89th Fire Fighters Ten Mile Road Race is scheduled for May 19, organizers said, with more than 550 individual runners, and more than 30 relay teams, taking part.
"Part of its tradition, part of its being able to do the challenge," race director Herbert Daniher said. "There's a connection to Thunder Bay. If you haven't done the 10 mile, you know somebody [who] has done it, or a family member."
"So there's a connection. It's all intertwined. It's a fabric that's woven within the community."
Registration for this year's race closes on May 11.
"We're short some volunteers," Daniher said. "We need people to step up."
"We'll train you up, and basically you get a free shirt, and you get invited to the the volunteer party. But more importantly, you get to experience and be part of the race."
Firefighter Melissa Geils said she'll be running in this year's 10 miler for the second time.
"It was great," she said of her first time running the race in 2024. "The energy was awesome."
"I ran way better than I thought I could have, just because of the excitement and the cheering on the sidelines."
Geils said the race is an important event for Thunder Bay Fire Rescue.
"It's been a long standing tradition for the fire department to be the title sponsor, and I think it's become a big event for us and we're really excited about it," she said. "We have a lot of firefighters who go out and run."
"We have an award for the fastest rookie firefighter, so that always gets some competition going amongst us, and everyone gets excited to go out. And it's a great way for us to get out in the community and get the community together for a big event."
"It's just something really important to us."
For more information, or to register as a runner or volunteer, visit the event's website.