“It was growing, and then it kind of stagnated a little bit,” said Chain of Lakes Rotary Club member and Silvera Run Committee Member Jesse Bentrup. “We decided to kind of spice it up with the Hot Dog Mile.”
The Hot Dog Mile will involve two laps on the running course in Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve behind the Lino Lakes YMCA, and then participants will have to eat an entire hot dog and bun before they’ve officially completed the event. The 5K race will still happen, along with a high school sports-themed obstacle course. All events are at the YMCA on Saturday, August 17, in conjunction with Blue Heron Days in Lino Lakes.
“Who doesn’t like a hot dog?” asked committee member Tom Tardif.
The Silvera Run helps raise money for police explorer clubs, the Rotary’s STRIVE (Students Taking Renewed Interest in the Value of Education) Foundation, and a scholarship in Silvera’s name. Shawn Silvera was responding to a vehicle chase when the suspect ran around a set of stop strips on the highway and ran over Silvera and killed him in 2005.
“The big thing was to continually bring awareness to the risks police officers take to protect our safety,” said Tardif. “You don’t want to forget those things.”
For more information about the event, click here.
