Fitzy's 5 - Competition running is BACK

Attention all runners who have been couped up in SA’s lockdown… Running SA is planning on hosting the Fitzy’s 5 fun run next Sunday.

Adelaide’s premier 5km Fun Run is scheduled for August 8 in North Adelaide and what better way to get the legs ticking over after sitting at home watching the rain tumble?

Athletics SA CEO Shane Fuller said it was important to press forward in organising the event, despite the unknown nature of the recent Covid-19 outbreak.

“We ultimately didn’t know last week whether Fitzy’s 5 could proceed, but we continued with the organising of Fitzy’s 5 so that runners had something to look forward to,” he said.

“If we have the opportunity to host a Fitzy’s 5 we are ready.”

SA’s Covid-19 restrictions allowed sport training to commence from Wednesday, July 28, with competition expected to return next weekend… just in time for Fitzy’s!

Named after local runner David “Fitzy” Fitzsimons, who was one of Australia’s leading distance runners in the 1970’s, Fitzy’s 5 is a 5km run hosted in Park 10, North Adelaide.

The 2020 event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but in 2019 more almost 400 people registered to participate.

This year Fitzy's 5 will cover a new course, given the uncertainty of the AFL's floating fixture, but will include some of the traditional roads.

Following parts of the Uni Loop, the Run will begin on War Memorial Drive, near the Adelaide City Council Nursery, and head towards Bundeys Road.

Participants will follow Bundeys Road and turn left onto Mackinnon Parade, before another left turn onto Frome Road and back onto War Memorial Drive for the second (final) lap.

This is a fast, flat, road surface course, so it’s sure to be the right race to set some amazing PB's, return to competition running or simply stretch the legs post-lockdown.

Local runner Adrian Potter has won the last two Fitzy’s 5s, including the 2019 event in 00:14:27, and said it was always a fun event.

“It has always been a really good, fast, fun course and one of the only chances you get to have a 5km hit out on the road,” he said.
“The group of competitors is really strong and it is a great opportunity to get pulled along for a PB.

“I am really proud to have won the last couple of events because this is one of the premier road running events in SA.

“It is a favourite of mine and a lot of people in the running community feel the same.”

Adrian said it was a great time to host a fun run, considering the restlessness of runners through the recent Covid-19 lockdown.

“Fitzy’s is a great chance to get out an exercise," he said.

"I’m sure that runners would have kept up their training in the restricted environment but there’s nothing like competition running.

“Hopefully we see a big field out there next Sunday.”

The run will commence at 8.30am and for registration or more information visit the Fitzy’s 5 page on the Running SA website - runningsa.com.au/sa-events/fitzys5/

We hope to see you next Sunday!