With just 12 short weeks until the third annual Labor of Love Triathlon and less than six weeks until the Get Fit Bonney Lake Business Expo, the excitement and energy is starting to build. Our Get Fit Bonney Lake committee has been meeting weekly to plan a great series of events that will benefit our community in a variety of ways.

One of the things we are most excited about is the Shirt Off Your Back Charity Fun Run/Walk that will kick off the Business Expo July 16. This is a noncompetitive run/walk starting at Prime Fitness and going through Sky Island. With options of one, two, three or five miles, you could go for the easy mile or challenge yourself with the grueling five mile run up and down the steep hills of Sky Island.

Choose Your Challenge:

One mile – “Fun Walk/Run” with a 19 ft elevation change;

Two miles – “Personal Best” with a 94 ft elevation change;

Three miles – “Ultimate Challenge” with a 194 ft elevation change; or

Five miles – “Extreme Challenge” with a 464 ft total elevation change.

There are Four different water stations along the way to keep you hydrated.

Pre-registration is available now at Prime Fitness and race day registration opens at 9 a.m. with the race beginning at 10 a.m. Walkers will start things off first and runners will follow. Cost is $12 per individual or $25 per family.

Donate an article of clothing, school supplies or nonperishable food and take $5 off your family registration fee or $2 off the individual price.  After the event, be sure to visit the booths at the Expo.

This event is run 100 percent by volunteers and 100 percent of the proceeds raised will benefit families in our community through the Lions-4-Kids House and the Bonney Lake Food Bank. Participants are encouraged to wear fluorescent green, the official color of the Lions-4-Kids House.

The Get Fit Bonney Lake Business Expo will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Matt Hoover, Biggest Loser winner from season 2 will be our featured speaker at 2 p.m. where he will also be awarding the prize to our Get Fit Bonney Lake Weight Loss Challenge winner.

If you have been thinking about doing a triathlon, not to worry: there is still time to train and prepare for the Third Annual Labor of Love Triathlon to be held Sept. 3. We are providing opportunities that will have even the first timers crossing the finish line with ease. Swim lessons are being offered through the Parks & Recreation Department and a group triathlon training program has just begun. Group training is held every other Wednesday and the cost is $8 per session. Call the Chamber for details at 253-222-5945.

Swim lessons are held Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 8 p.m. at the Sumner Pool and lap swimming is available three times per week. Lessons are $40 and I can tell you from personal experience that the lessons are very beneficial. Register through the Sumner Parks & Recreation Department 253-891-6500.

Lora Butterfield is the Executive Director of the Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at 253-222-5945 or lora@bonneylake.com. The Chamber office is located at 20608 Hwy 410 E (Inside Harborstone Credit Union) and the Chamber’s website is www.bonneylake.com