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The Bunny Blitz 5K Trail Run & Walk is a local 5K race that has run every year on the Saturday before Easter, since 2007.
This year's race, the 17th annual race, will be on Saturday, March 30, with walkers starting at 8 a.m. and runners starting at 9:30 a.m.
Those who register by March 22 will receive a race shirt.
Registration is $40 and can be completed at Bunny
Blitz.com through March 26 or on race day.
The race takes place in Franklin Township, Huntingdon County, on a single loop-course that starts at the Harpster Ballfield (off Marengo Road, Pennsylvania Furnace) and passes over private gravel roads through woods, streamside meadows and farm fields.
The majority of the race runs through private land, owned by the family of Wayne and Marjorie Harpster in Spruce Creek.
In its initial years, the race would not have happened without the time and volunteer efforts of Rob Bokunewicz and Andrew Harpster.
Both worked countless hours with sponsors, timers, shirts-manufacturers, etc., to organize everything behind the scenes of the race.
In recent years, some of the family's oldest grandchildren, including Izaiah and Eli Bokunewicz, have stepped into leadership roles with marketing, planning and preparing the course for race-day.
The Bunny Blitz 5K has been a nonprofit event since its first year running, with all proceeds benefiting the Northern Blair County Recreational Center and YMCA of Centre County, State College.
Proceeds split 50:50 between these two organizations because nearly half of the race-sponsors have been from Blair County.
This year's Blair County sponsors include Imler's Poultry, Knisely Plumbing and Heating, Shoe Fly Athletics and DelGrosso Foods. All four of these companies are repeat-sponsors and have supported the Bunny Blitz for multiple years.
"We hope to see you March 30th and make this year's race the best yet!" said a member of the Bunny Blitz Organizing Team.
Bunny Blitz Facts:
n The first race in 2007 had 35 registered runners. The race has averaged 100+ participants (runners andwalkers) in recent years.
n -In 2008, there was a major snowstorm, (6 to 8") on Good Friday before the race. The Bunny Blitz Organizing Team emphasized safety first and agreed to still hold the event. The course was re-marked with the tracks of a John Deere Gator on Saturday morning. All of the participants braving the snow and cold weather, finished safely.
n Chocolate milk is offered each year to all of the finishers as a recovery drink. The milk is provided by another race sponsor, the American Dairy Association-North East.