Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

The tag line sounds more like a going-out-of-business sale: Same great course, simple $10 price.

Organizers of the Sequim RunOff 10-kilometer and two-mile races, set for May 2 at the Old Dungeness Schoolhouse, have slashed prices in what they call "economic stimulus pricing."

Carol Clayton of Athlete's Choice said the courses remain the same as last year. The only changes are lowered prices and lack of a participant T-shirt.

"(The goal was) to keep it simple, which also keeps it cheap," Clayton said.

The 31st-annual event has runners and walkers starting near Nash's Farm Store on Sequim-Dungeness Way, across from the schoolhouse. From there, both 10k and two-mile runners take a right on Twin View Drive, a left on Marine Drive, left again on East Anderson Road and a right on Lotzgesell Road. Two-milers do a short out-and-back on Lotzgesell while 10k runners continue to Ward and Woodcock roads before the last stretch, a northbound path on Towne Road to the Old Schoolhouse.

The race's lone aid station is at mile three.

Refreshments are available at the end, along with ribbon prizes for top age-group finishers and random draw prizes.

Sequim native John Duquette, now a Seattle resident, often comes home to race the 10k - and usually wins, including a stretch of six wins in eight years. Don Young of Port Townsend won in 2008, though. Shawn Hines of Port Townsend won the women's 10k last year, breaking a four-year winning streak by Sequim women (Christina Bruce, Margie Leary and Laura Gould twice).

The RunOff, the longest-running road race in Clallam County, is traditionally a good draw that sees 250 people complete in either the two-mile or 10k course. Clayton and her husband, Todd, stopped hosting a pair of other local races - the Robin Hill Run and Lincoln Park run in Port Angeles - because of low turnout.

"We need 200 runners to break even - that's what we've discovered," Clayton said, noting that while the other events were fun, they generally drew only 100 to 150 participants.

Despite the closure of the Hood Canal bridge just before the race, Clayton said she expects to see just as many runners and walkers on race day as in previous years.

"I don't think it will affect our numbers, especially with the lower price," she said.



Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.



Sequim RunOff 10k, 2-mile races

What: Road races for all ages

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2

Where: Starts and ends at Old Dungeness Schoolhouse, 2781 Towne Road

Cost: $10 (no T-shirt provided); youths 12 and younger, $5

To register: Online through a link at www.athleteschoice.info (online closes at noon April 29); or day-of-race registration, 8-9:45 a.m.