The Bendigo Ford Fun Run is set to grace the streets of Bendigo once again on Sunday. Organisers are calling on locals of all ages to participate, promising an experience that will leave you questioning your fitness level and why you’re breathing like a pomeranian on a Red Bull high.
The fun run is expected to attract runners, joggers, walkers, families, and possibly even a few lost tourists who were hoping for a leisurely stroll through a park rather than test their cardiovascular endurance.
The event boasts a range of options for participants, from the 1km Kids Dash, which sounds like a cute way to exploit children’s boundless energy, to the Half Marathon, a half-hearted attempt at convincing people that running for 21.1km is a reasonable and enjoyable pastime.
One of the highlights is the 5k’er because nothing says team building like collectively regretting life choices while wheezing through a 5k trek around Bendigo. Participants are encouraged to walk if running feels too much like adulting, adding a new layer of irony to the term “Fun Run.”
For those who possess a masochistic streak and a fondness for picturesque suffering, the 10km course takes participants past Lake Weeroona, ensuring they have plenty of time to question why they thought this was a good idea in the first place.
“For those who want to really stretch the legs,” said one event organiser, presumably someone with a deep misunderstanding of human anatomy, “the half marathon presents the biggest (and longest) challenge on the day.” What better way to bond with strangers than sharing the agony of every step in a race that feels like it might never end?
The event aims to raise funds for a new children’s outdoor rehabilitation playspace at Bendigo Health because the best way to help sick kids is to make perfectly healthy adults exhaust themselves to the point of collapse.
Can’t participate? Then why not donate to the Bendigo Health Foundation and come down to Rosalind Park anyway to cheer on the runners and enjoy the atmosphere?
So, join the Bendigo Ford Fun Run. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or someone who confuses a brisk walk with cardio, there’s a distance for everyone. After all, it’s not about the finish line; it’s about the journey, the questionable life choices, and the sore muscles that follow. See you at the starting line, Bendigo!
