FARMINGTON — The University of Maine Fitness and Recreation Center will make a splash on Mother’s Day, May 8, with a kayak and canoe fun run and race on the Sandy River.
Sponsored by the FRC’s “Mainely Outdoors” outdoor recreation program, the Sandy River Mother’s Day Fun Run and Race was created to kick off the spring with an opportunity to promote fitness while enjoying the outdoors.
“We’re excited to kick off the canoe and kayak season with this special Mother’s Day event,” Jim Toner, director of the UMF Fitness and Recreation Center, said. “This is what Mainely Outdoors is all about — providing opportunities for the community to enjoy Maine’s wealth of four-season outdoor activities.”
The Sandy River Mother’s Day Fun Run and Race features an approximate 10-mile paddle and will start at 1 p.m. in Strong and end in Fairbanks. The put-in location is at the Strong American Legion at the intersection of Routes 4 and 145 and the take-out location is at the Little League ball field on Route 4.
Participants 12 and older of all ability levels are welcome to compete in the timed race or to paddle for fun. Paddlers must provide their own canoe or kayak, paddles, personal floatation devices and other related equipment.
According to the Whitewater Classification System, this section of the Sandy River is identified as Class I — moving water with small disturbances on the surface and a few small waves, and Class II — easy rapids with smaller waves and clear channels that are obvious and where occasional maneuvering may be required.
Registration fees are $10 person and $5 for mothers and UMF students. Registration forms can be completed by visiting the UMF Fitness and Recreation Center or on site the day of the race from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Racing categories for participants include high school students; college students; men/women, ages 18-49; ages over 50; and family. Children ages 12-14 must be accompanied by an adult.
For race rules, registration forms or more information, visit the UMF Fitness and Recreation website at http://frc.umf.maine.edu/, or call at 778-7495.
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- Zachery Good, left, and Lindsay Roy, University of Maine at Farmington students, maneuver through some rips on a section of the Sandy River last May as part of a Mainely Outdoors canoe trip.
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