This will be a silver weekend for local area runners.
For starters, the inaugural Virginia City Silver Run 10K and 2-mile run/walk will be held on Saturday. Then on Sunday, the 29th annual Silver State Marathon will be held in the Washoe Valley with various races, including a 10K walk, 10K run, half-marathon and marathon.
The Silver Run begins at 8 a.m. with both the 10-kilometer and 2-mile races from the Delta Saloon on C Street in downtown Virginia City. The 2-mile course will cover the city's historic streets. The 10K course will include stretches of trails that will pass three different cemeteries.
Awards will be given out to the top three finishers in each age group for the 10K and 2-mile runs and to the top three male and female overall finishers in the walk.
The entry fee is $30, with proceeds going to benefit the programs at Hugh Gallagher Elementary School in Virginia City. Registration will open at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
For more information, contact race director Sue Moulden at 882-6828 or at 847-0977. The Sagebrush Stompers and Tahoe Mountain Milers running clubs are helping with the race organization.
On Sunday, the Silver State Marathon starts at 6 a.m. from Bowers Mansion Regional Park. The 26.2-mile course will take runners around Washoe Lake, as well as Washoe Lake State Park and the Scripps Wildlife Preserve before returning to finish at Bowers.
The half-marathon and 10K races start at 8 a.m. and the 10K walk at 8:10.
Entry forms are available at www.silverstatestriders.com, but no race-day registration will be accepted.
Looking ahead, the 25th annual Kirkwood 5K/10K will be held on Sept. 3 at Kirkwood Ski Resort in Alpine County.
A one-mile kids fun run will be held at 9 a.m., followed by the start of the 5 and 10K races.
Registration is $25 if postmarked by Aug. 26 ($30 after that date). The entry fee for the kids fun run is $5. Proceeds go to benefit the Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department.
A drawing will be held, with the grand prizes being two seasons passes at Kirkwood - one for downhill skiing, the other for the cross country ski area.
For more information, contact race director Carol Rapacz at (775) 588-5988, email tahoecarol@charter.net or go online to www.tahoemountainmilers for details.
n Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.