Katanning runners take to farm track for Active Farmers’ inaugural Run 4 Resilience

Katanning farmers laced up their sneakers on Sunday morning for a running event to bring the community together, with more than 200 competitors taking to the farm track for a different kind of morning run.

Staged by Active Farmers and held on a property just outside Katanning, the Run 4 Resilience brought together the local community and visitors from across the region for a morning of movement and community connection.

Event organiser Boyd Rae said there was a “buzz of excitement” among the 220 runners on the day, with everyone eager to get out on the track.

“Everyone really enjoyed it, for a winter event, 200-plus people rocking up and smashing it out on a Sunday morning was great to see.

“The course was great, a nice mix of crops and bush, and those of us who live out here run alongside the crops all the time, but it was interesting to hear people who have come in from further afield like Margaret River who have never run through crops talk about how excited they were to do it.

“It’s nice to see the places you see every day through kind of a new lens.”

The event ran on a 7km loop track, with options to run just one lap, two laps totalling 14km, or three for a total 21km.

There was also a more casual 3km option, for those with young children, pushing prams, or not keen on running the full distance.

Mr Rae said it was important there was an option for everyone who wanted to be part of the day to get out on the track and have a go, from competitors chasing a half-marathon personal best time, or those who have never run a race in their lives.

Run 4 Resilience is the first event of its kind in Katanning. But Mr Rae said many who registered and ran in the event were eager to see it continue, with an idea in the works to make the event a regional series to support the need for rural community wellbeing and connection on a wider stage.