Road to Trail 5K still a go amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Jose Negron

jnegron@yourmvi.com

There was a time when doubt surrounded the Road to Trail 5K, the largest fundraising event held each year by the Serra Catholic cross country program. 

The coronavirus placed the event in a state of uncertainty at one point, but it will not keep it from occurring as scheduled next month. 

The fifth annual event will be held beginning at 9 a.m. Aug. 8 at White Oak Park in McKeesport. It will consist of two separate races – a women’s event and a men’s event. 

“There was a lot of doubt whether it was going to happen, but luckily everything has been cleared,” Serra Catholic head cross country coach Brian Dzurenda said. “We’re able to do it but in limited numbers.”

Only 50 runners will be permitted to compete in each of the two races. Dzurenda said 37 female and 34 male runners have already pre-registered. Once that magic number of 50 registered runners is reached in each division, registration will close. That is unless Allegheny County raises the number of people permitted at an event. Registration would open back up if that occurs. 

“It has a little bit of a different breakdown just because we’re going to socially distance everybody,” Dzurenda said, adding that all runners will have to wear masks before and after the race in addition to spreading out six feet at the starting line. 

Fundraising efforts such as the Road to Trail 5K have helped the cross country program at Serra Catholic exponentially. 

With funds raised through the 5K, Dzurenda said each member of the cross country team gets a pair of training shoes and a pair of racing spikes from Fleet Feet Pittsburgh, a running store in Bethel Park. 

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