Small Town News

Wetland Trail Run marks the start of a great tradition

---

I participated in the Cheney Wetland Trail Run this past Saturday. It was a great first-time event and a sign of good things in Cheney's future.

The event itself seemed to be fairly well organized, with plenty of signs and volunteers pointing the way to parking at the Columbia Plateau trailhead off Cheney-Spokane Road. As my friends and I stood stretching I and trying to shake off the pre-race jitters, I took a look around. It seemed that almost every local demographic was represented; there were young parents with little kids, college students and more than a few silver foxes. There were serious runners of all ages decked out to race, as well as the middle-aged ladies outfitted with their morning coffee ready to take a scenic walk.

While we waited for the 10 a.m. start, I told my friends that the run would take place on city service roads around the wastewater treatment plant's wetlands. They made faces and asked if it would smell like, well, you know. I told them that the water in the wetlands was greywater, which is the result of a process that involves separating the liquids from solid sewage. That liquid is filtered and cleaned until it's cleaner than water in typical lakes and streams; that's why it's sent out to the wetland, I explained, so that the water can oxygenate and go back into the lakes and streams. I had been told that it wouldn't be smelly out there, that it would look and feel like a real wetland, but I admitted I hadn't been out there myself.

Once the race got started, I sort of wished I had taken a trial run. Not because it smelledbecause it really didn't at allbut because I had been expecting a nice flat, grassy run around some nice flat ponds. Instead the course was like a roller coaster, with short steep inclines and declines through forests, rocky outcroppings and, of course, wetlands. Despite the terrible side ache I developed within the first mile, I did manage to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, and appreciate the organizers' vision. This really is quite scenic, I thought to myself as a group of middle school girls passed me.

There were plenty of volunteers along thecourse providing encouragement, and once I realized this was going to be a hilly, somewhat rocky ride, I settled into a pace somewhere between a job and a crawl. Though I didn't have a problem finding my way along the course (there were plenty of runners ahead of me, so I just did the

lemming thing) my husband is a serious-runner type and he told me later that he and the eventual winner took a wrong turn and volunteers had to turn them around. I did, however, have a minor freak-out when I thought I was nearing the end and I came across a suspiciously familiar sign that said "Mile 1." Next year I suggest the organizers either leave the mileage up to mystery or put the correct numbers on those signs, lest I freak out again.

I eventually finished the run, and after the endorphin high wore off I started to think about the event itself. It takes a lot of work to put on a race, and I commend the organizers for taking it on. Runs and walks are a great way to bring people together in an active, satisfying way. I really hope the Wetland Trail Run becomes an annual thing, and that it spurs more races in this area. Seriously, if even the sewage ponds are scenic (I know, they're wetlands and that water's really clean; I'm just trying to make a point here), just think how cool a run through Turnbull would be!

I heard a rumor that if this run was successful, planning may begin for a fall half-marathon in Cheney, maybe as early as next year. I certainly think the Wetland Trail Run was a success, so I'm just going to go ahead and start training for that 13.1 now.



Copyright 2011 Cheney Free Press, Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Cheney Free Press Cheney, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Cheney Free Press