Organizers excited about improved Blazin’ the Burg event

By Andy Brown
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Updated: September 9, 2016

For the last five years, runners from all over the area have made their way to Louisburg every fall to compete in the annual Blazin’ the Burg 5K Run and Walk.

Now that the event is in its sixth year, members of the Louisburg Chamber of Commerce want to make it a bigger experience – for not only the runners – but for the community as well when it kicks off on Oct. 1.

“We will have bands, food trucks, vendors and a lot of things for kids and families to do throughout the evening,” chamber director Becky Bowes said. “We are hoping a lot of people will come out and see what it is all about. We are trying to make this more of a community event encouraging everyone to come cheer participants on and enjoy entertainment before and after the race.”

Some of the entertainment will include the local band 68 Overpass which will play after the race until around 10 p.m. The children’s band Happy Face will perform before the start of the race to entertain the little ones.

Along with the vendors and food trucks, there will be face painting, a bounce house and cheerleaders from the Kansas City Chiefs will be on hand as well.

A new aspect to the event this year is race organizers decided to expand the race and add a 10K course to go along with the traditional 5K and kids fun run.

“We wanted to attract new runners and make it a little more challenging for some,” Bowes said. “We thought about doing a half-marathon but we couldn’t get a course together without crossing 68 Highway and we didn’t want to do that. But we hope the 10K will bring more people out and we are excited about it.”

The chamber is also trying to attract younger participants as well. There will be a kindergarten through fifth-grade challenge and the grade level with most representation will earn an extra recess at school and a popsicle.

The Blazin’ Bash on Broadway will begin at 4 p.m. and the center of the entertainment will be between the Wildcat Activity Center and 1^st and Broadway. The Kids Fun Run will start at 5 p.m., while the 5K and 10K Run/Walk portion of the event will take place at 6 p.m.

Louisburg High School cheerleaders and the drumline from the LHS Marching Band will be stationed throughout the course to help encourage the runners.

To register for the 6^th Annual Blazin’ the Burg, visit www.louisburgkansas.com. Registration for the 5K is $35 for an individual or $30 for a member of a team of four or more. For the 10K, the cost is $45 for an individual or $35 for a team of four or more.

The cost for the Kids Fun Run is $15, but organizers are also offering a discount for all races through Sept. 15. To receive $5 off your registration, enter the code ‘416’ when signing up online.

Also at the festivities will be the group Giving the Basics. Members will accept donations of personal care items and those will be given to Louisburg High School students who are in need.