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Barbados Hiking Association Communications Director Jenny Gonsalves (left) and Elite Distance Athletic Club Head Coach Leo Garnes (right) flank Co-operators General Marketing Manager Cheryl Forde (third right) and Barbados Hiking Association President Sandra Archer as Forde hands over the sponsorship cheque for the upcoming event.

Hiking Association to host 5K Safari

Runners and walkers of all skill levels will be put to the test on Independence Day when the Barbados Hiking Association hosts its 5K Safari Run, Hike and Walk.

On November 30, the streets and tracks will be traded in for rugged trails as the association invites members of the public to join in and enjoy some new views.
During a media conference held yesterday at the Co-operators General Insurance Office at Collymore Rock, details surrounding the event were revealed by Hiking Association President Sandra Archer. Speaking to members of the media, Archer noted that the event, which is slated to get started at 7 a.m. at Bath, will take runners, walkers and hikers around a marked 5K course.

“This event that we are holding on November 30th, it's a little challenge. We call it a 5K Safari and we have lots of 5Ks going on in Barbados all through the year, but this is a 5K with a difference. It is off-road and we are going through the hills from Bath. We are starting in the Bath area and we are going inland, uphill. So it's a bit of a challenge.
You are going to have some hills, you are going to be on trails, uneven terrain, but it should be a fun event,” she said.

General Manager at Co-operators Anton Lovell was also in attendance and he took the opportunity to state that he thought the event and others like it are important right
now.

“It is timely for us to get involved with them at this time given the number of complaints we are hearing about the NCDs (non-communicable diseases) in Barbados and the obese persons around. It is quite an interesting event – wholesome, for not only the athletes and the hikers, but for keep-fit enthusiasts.

“Our concern as an insurance company as well is the number of accidents that we have on our roads. So despite this event being off-road, it still will bring into some focus our concern about the accidents that we are having to pedestrians and cyclists on the public roads,” he added.

With prizes up for grabs in the first three spots, registration is $10 and available through the Barbados Hiking Association on Facebook, at the Co-operators General Insurance office in Collymore Rock and from board members.

Head Coach of the Elite Distance Athletic Club Leo Garnes intends to bring out a team of his charges and introduce them to a new type of training, noting that this is just the kind of challenge everyone needs.

“This event sounds very exciting and one of the main things I thought of when I heard of it was that I would be putting my athletes out of their comfort zone. I think a safari run will be very ideal for some of the weak-minded if you intend to get strong.

“An event like this would be very good for a lot of our athletes because a lot of them operate in their comfort zone. That is one of the things I have noticed in Barbados. So it is very important that they get out of their comfort zone because that is where the adaptation will take place and that is how they will improve,” Garnes said.
(MP)

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