Getting ready Runners Nick Schultz and Dave Johnson ran a part of the August 22 Railroad Days Dash 5 K race course at Fifth Street and Third Avenue. The race will start at 9 a.m. and will kick off a number of Railroad Days events. Dave is joggling, a combination of jogging and juggling, to heighten awareness of Kinship. See listing of events on page 3a. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford) Plans are in the final stages for the first ever Railroad Days Dash, a 5 kilometer run/walk being held on Saturday, Aug.22, in Staples.

Nick Schultz, an avid runner for the past few years, is race director, with Dave Johnson, director of the Staples Kinship program, assisting him. Both would love to be running, but Nick plans to be taking care of last minute details. Dave, however, will be both running and joggling at the same time. Joggling is both jogging and juggling, which is Dave's favorite way to promote awareness of Kinship, his program which unites adult mentors with youngsters who need occasional adult companionship and guidance.

The run/walk event on Aug. 22 will begin at 9 a.m., starting and finishing at Staples Alliance Church, on 8th Street Northeast.

Race route The first-ever Railroad Days Dash will start and finish at the Staples Alliance Church on 8th Street. Runners will start out going north and follow the route from there. "We really encourage pre-registration, and want people to know the cost is $15 if pre-registered by Thursday, August 20. Cost will be $18 after that," Nick said. The Motley Dairy Queen owner added that those pre-registered are guaranteed a race T-shirt. goodie bag and a very special treat at the end of the race.

"Late registrants will receive these items on a first come, first served basis," Nick said, with no guarantee there will be enough.

Registration forms can be dropped off at either Staples or Motley Dairy Queens, Staples Curves, Staples Motley Chamber of Commerce office. Sponsors included Curves, the two Dairy Queens, ACS (Arvig Communication Systems) and the Staples Bakery and Convenience store.

There will be awards for mens and womens overall winners; with divisions for under 21, 21 to 49, and 50 and older.

The race route will run north and south mostly on Eighth and Fifth Streets in Staples, with Prairie Avenue, Warner Road and Third Avenue being the main east-west connections. From the church, runners will head north about a block, turn west on Prairie to Fourth Street, south to Warner Road where the route will jog east one block to Fifth, then straight south all the way to Third Avenue. Runners will turn east and head up the only significant hill on the course. The runners will turn north on 8th Street and run straight back to the church.

"We're hoping to showcase Staples. We'd like to see people out, getting involved by encouraging the participants, cheering them as they pass by their homes," Nick said. He also asked that people be aware of the race and its route, as roads will not be closed, but there could be delays as police stop traffic briefly for the runners.

All funds raised will go to the local Kinship program. To pre-register or for more details , contact Nick Schultz at 218-894-1201 or schultzn5@yahoo.com. You can also visit www. railroaddaysdash.com for more details.