Inaugural Deschutes Dash 5K to raise money for middle school track uniforms

Brian Spears, a fitness coach at Rainier Functional Training Center, began to notice more students complaining about the inadequate gear for the Rainier Middle School track team.

He heard that they were too small or too big and that it affected their performance and confidence.

“Teams don’t have adequate gear, and I think that if they do, there’s a sense of pride. When you’ve got on a nice, crisp uniform that fits you well, you move well and you feel good and do better,” Spears said. “Then people see it and are inspired as well.”

Spears began to organize the inaugural Deschutes Dash 5K, a 3.8-mile journey from Rainier Functional Training Center along Rails to Trails and to the Deschutes River Bridge and back.

The event is set for 11 a.m., Saturday, June 29, with a run for kids set to begin at 1:30 p.m. Registration costs $35, which includes an official event T-shirt and commemorative water bottle. First-, second- and third-place runners will have their photo taken to celebrate their success. There will also be a post-race celebration that includes a potluck barbecue. Proceeds will support the Rainier Middle School track team for new uniforms.

Those interested in registering can do so in person on June 29 or online at https://tinyurl.com/yc4hfjmr.

Spears, who began working at the Rainier Functional Training Center in February, hopes to use his 10 years of experience of working at different 5Ks and other running events to organize his first of many fundraisers in Rainier and surrounding areas.

“I’m happy to do something for somebody. We want to establish ourselves and build a bond with the community that we’re in and give back to the community,” he said. “I believe in health and fitness and having a fit community with people who have goals and want to come together.”

Spears said he is also interested in organizing an event called “The Run to the Next Town Over,” where community members run the Yelm-Tenino trail and connect with like-minded people.

“I believe everybody should have people in their community to run to the next town over. The trails are awesome,” he said. “People are very kind to one another here. It’s beautiful.”

Spears hopes that there is a crowd of people cheering on the runners during the Deschutes Dash 5K.

“If you show up, whether you participate or whether you are a spectator, we would love to have people at the finish line cheering people on. If we can get a good crowd to make a lot of noise at the finish line for everybody and the kids, too, that’d be great,” he said.