It’s like a zombie run, but instead of fleeing from zombies, participants in this weekend fun run will transform into salmon and evade hungry whales, bears and fishermen.
The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and several other organizations are partnering together to put the Salmon Run (Xáat át wujixeex) Saturday morning at the Riverbend Elementary School covered play area. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m., and the 1-mile and 5-kilometer runs along Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei (Brotherhood Bridge Trail) start at 10:30 a.m.
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“It’s a community fun run to support the sport of running and the Boys Run (I Toowu Klatseen) program and show that running doesn’t have to be a serious race,” Boys Run I Toowu Klatseen Specialist Josh Musson said.
Boys Run I Toowu Klatseen is a 10-week running program that teaches positive self esteem, communication and teamwork, among other skills, to boys. The program will take place at Harborview, Glacier Valley and Riverbend elementary schools this fall, and each weekly program highlights a different Southeast Alaska traditional value.
Musson said part of the program’s value lies in connecting youth to supportive adults.
“It provides positive male role models for our boys, which in some instances there’s an absence of those positive male role models, and it teaches skills like perseverance and resiliency and healthy lifestyles,” Musson said.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.