Staff Report

RUSSELL, Ky. — The entry list is starting to grow for the first-ever Kiwanis Virtual 5K Run By The River.
In its 43rd year, Run By The River is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of East Greenup County.
But social distancing guidelines established to help fight the COVID-19 Pandemic has dictated changes from the normal in-person race held each June in downtown Russell.
This year’s event will be a virtual race that can be run anywhere over a 3-day period beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 11, and midnight Saturday, June 13 (the normal date of the race).
It will be a 5K run or walk only and participants must report their own times through the Run By The River website.
All registrations must be completed at the website, runbytheriver.com,said Tim Gearhart, race director.
The cost is $25 plus a $2 processing fee that is paid through the website, he said.
“This format will give runners from around the world the opportunity to participate,” Gearhart said.
“Since you run where you are and have 72 hours to pick the time and course to run we expect to have entrants from well outside our normal turnout. Just keep in mind we are operating on Eastern Daylight Savings Time.”
Once you have completed your run or walk, go back to runbytheriver.com to report your time, he added.
Those registered will receive by mail after race day a specially designed shirt that notes the unusal circumstances of this year’s event, plus a medal with a similar design.
“The designer even put tiny little masks over the runner’s faces on the shirt and medal,” Gearhart said.
Money raised by Run By The River is used for numerous Kiwanis civic projects, including sponsorship of Key Clubs at Russell and Raceland-Worthington High Schools; donations to the Family Resource Centers at the county’s three school systems; Thanksgiving food baskets for no less than 50 families; and donations to Shop With A Cop at Christmas and the library’s summer reading program.