The new trail at Black Elk-Neihardt Park will be the site of three races organized by the Greater Omaha Area Trail Runners, or GOATz, later this summer.
At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Blair City Council unanimously approved the request by Blair resident and GOATz president Ron Ruhs and race director Kim Bultsma to hold the races — a half marathon, 10K and 5K — at the park.
The races are tentatively set for Aug. 7. A maximum of 150 runners are expected. COVID protocols will be in place. Organizers are discussing the possibility of using available parking on the former Dana College campus.
Bultsma said the race has historically been held at Schramm Park, but construction has forced them to move.
“We'd like to make this a permanent move to Blair,” she said.
Ruhs said the race is an opportunity to promote the trail, the park and the city.
“Part of what we do and promote is to get people out on the trails and also show them how to respect the trails, take care of the trails and enjoy them like we do,” Ruhs said. “We think this is a great opportunity, in talking with the park board, that we can get new runners up to, not only Black Elk, but get them interested in running in general.”
GOATz is a nonprofit organization, which Ruhs said gives back to the communities where races are held. Since 2012, the group has donated more than $200,000.
“We would like to do the same for Blair and get something started up here that we can get some runners involved and get them interested in the trail,” he said.
Ruhs and Bultsma said they would also like to get the community involved on race day, but also promote the trail during other times of the year.
“We'll also have group runs,” Ruhs said. “Take people up there and show them the trails so it's not a one day deal. We want to get them used to the whole thing.”
