The ‘We’re Back 5K in-person race’ is on for Labour Day (May 1) in Belmopan

Posted: Monday, April 26, 2021. 2:42 pm CST.

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The We’re Back 5K, the first in-person race in more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is on for the Labour Day holiday on Saturday, May 1, in Belmopan.

Ricardo Salazar of Totaltimebz.com said to Breaking Belize News (BBN) that the race is on even if he doesn’t get all the participants he was looking for to put it on.

“I decided to do the event even if I don’t get 30 participants,” Salazar said on Sunday. “Fifteen are interested so far, so I’ll probably get the 30.”

“Let’s hope there is no monkey wrench thrown in by the National Sports or the Ministry of Sports; will wait for new Statutory Instrument to find out official guidelines,” he added.

Last week the Minister of Sports Kevin Bernard announced that non-contact sports like athletics would be allowed to restart after more than a year lockdown. Athletes of contact sports will only be allowed training sessions.

“Let’s celebrate the return of our beloved sports and Total Time’s first anniversary of its first virtual event with a 5K on May 1st!” Salazar had said on Friday, April 23, on his Belize Running Events Facebook page.

Salazar said that the We’re Back 5K race on May 1 in Belmopan will coincide with the Lion’s Half Marathon Country Tour organized by Ian “Lion” Gordon. Gordon will race in the 5K as part of his Half Marathon that day.

“The runners will leave at 15 seconds intervals because of the COVID-19 protocol to avoid mass gatherings,” Salazar said.

“Mass starts will be contrary to the protocols so we will have a physical distance start grid minimum of 6ft spaced apart. And leaving at intervals will also allow less crowding on the route and less overtaking of runners and bunching up at the start.”

Salazar has been quite busy all year using his Totaltimebz.com site for virtual races which became the way to go around and not being able to have normal races during the pandemic.

Totaltimebz.com uses net time/chip-time/personal time equipment to time races to hundredths of a second.

“What this does is it measures the time, line-to-line,” Salazar said “Because runners are leaving the starting line with interval departure, everyone will move off at different times. Oppositely, when we have mass starts everyone gets the same start time regardless of where they are in the starting position or when they leave the official starting line marker.”

The race will start and finish at Guanacaste Park at 6 am.

“The route will be from there, left on Forest Drive, left towards the bus terminal, run around the terminal, head out back to Forest Drive, then right turn to Hummingbird Highway and finish at the Guanacaste roundabout,” Salazar said.

Salazar said the registration fee will be $8.00 if there is enough and that medals will be given to the Top 3 in the Men’s and Women’s Categories.

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