Running, biking for children’s mental health (10 photos)

Approximately 75 people participated in Sunday’s 3rd Annual DU283 duathlon in support of Algoma Family Services (AFS) Foundation.

“We know that physical fitness plays a part in boosting mental health, for kids and everybody in general,” said Paige Linklater, AFS Foundation manager.

“Kids have been at home (more often during the pandemic, COVID-19 lockdowns forcing them to learn from home). It’s important to bring out the awareness of that. It’s been tough on everybody's mental health in general,” Linklater said, stating much-needed children’s mental health services are available at AFS.

The event began with a five kilometre run from The Machine Shop, participants heading through the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site, then along the waterfront to the Roberta Bondar Pavilion and back to The Machine Shop.

From there, they bicycled seven times along Bay Street, St. Marys River Drive, Foster Drive, up Brock Street, along Queen Street East to Gore Street, then south on Gore and back to The Machine Shop (28 kilometres).

They finished off with the second five-kilometre running component of the duathlon (for a total of 38 kilometres), supporters cheering them across the finish line.

A shorter 'sprint duathlon' option consisted of five, 20 and two-and-a-half kilometre stretches for a total of 27.5 kilometres.

Registration for DU283 began at 8 a.m., the event itself shortly after 8:30.  

Like last year, DU283 observed COVID-19 protocols.

The event was modified to include a maximum of 100 participants, with staggered starts to observe social distancing.

The first DU283 duathlon in 2019 included preliminary duathlons at local high schools, the entire distance covered adding up to 283 kilometres.

283 also refers to the badge number held by DU283 founder Sonny Spina in his days as a Sault Police officer.