HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Laugh your way to the finish line at Strataca's first Fools Day 5K taking place on April 1.
This unique 5K cross country style run is 650 feet below the Earth’s surface in Strataca’s famous and active salt mine.
This race is a fundraiser for Strataca, The Kansas Underground Salt Museum.
For logistical reasons, the race will be ran in heats.
“We can only take 30 people underground at a time, and for that reason we’ve spread it into heats,” said Rachel Terry, Strataca operations manager. “Thirty at each time frame, going down every 15 minutes.”
Heats are limited to the first 30 participants to sign up.
If someone signs up for a late heat, and there is empty space in the heats ahead, that person will move into an earlier heat and will be notified via email before race day.
People will have the opportunity to time themselves by using clocks at the start and finish lines.
Participants may run or walk this event. Those that choose to walk are asked to select a heat earlier in the day.
All walkers and runners still on the course at 1 p.m. will be picked up and driven to the finish line.
Runners and walkers will need to bring:
A helmet. Stataca recommends a bike helmet. All helmets will be subject to approval by staff.
A light. A headlamp on a helmet works great. It does get dark in the mines.
For t-shirt orders, sizes and availability cannot be guaranteed at this point. The first 200 registrants are guaranteed a medal.
No one under age eight may enter and ages eight to eighteen must be accompanied by an adult. Participants are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled heat to pick up their race packet. Late arrivials may have to race in the next available heat.
The event starts at 8 a.m. and will run until noon. People are recommended to arrive before their heat. The first heat should arrive at 7:45 a.m.
People can register for the Strataca Fools Day 5K at runsignup.com. Processing fees and taxes are applied to the purchase. The purchase is final, no refunds.
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