Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The 2010 Steamboat Springs Running Series kicks off Satur­­day with the 25th annual Spirit Challenge.

The race features 5- and 10-kilometer races, both of which begin at 10 a.m. at Steamboat Springs Middle School.

The 5-kilometer is a scenic run on and off a road loop, while the 10-kilometer race goes up and then back downhill through Str­awberry Pa­rk.

Runners can preregister at www.runningseries.com until 5 p.m. today or at Ski Haus until noon today. The race is open to runners of all ages. With entry, runners also receive a free T-shirt. The top three male and female finishers in each division also will receive a prize.

The Spirit Challenge also features a raffle and drawing for prizes, as well as food from Freshies.

Preregistration is $25 for both races. Day-of registration also is $25. Runners younger than 16 pay a registration fee equal to their age.

“It really is a huge, huge help for the race directors to register early,” said Cara Marrs, the summer Running Series director. “It’s a lot of work to register people the day of.”

Most of the race proceeds benefit the Legacy Education Foundation, which gives grants to teachers in Routt County public schools for projects that promote student involvement in community leadership or support the community overall.

Marrs said that as of Thursday morning, there were a fair number of people registered. She said the Spirit Challenge is a great race for families. The courses aren’t extremely challenging, and the competitors are mostly residents.

The next race in the Steamboat Springs Running Series is the June 6 Steamboat Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10K.