In three and a half weeks, you can make history by being part of the first-ever West Seattle Float Dodger 5K – a run/walk right before the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade, reminiscent of the Torchlight Run preceding the Seafair Torchlight Parade. If you haven’t registered for the Float Dodger 5K yet, you can have fun doing that during the registration party at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) this Sunday. We asked WS Runner’s Tim McConnell for a few more details on what they’re envisioning the Float Dodger will be like:

The race is 75 minutes before the start of the parade. The course starts at West Seattle Runner (Charlestown and California), goes north and turns around at Lander. There may be a float (or two) parked in the middle of the road we will have to run around.

From there, it’s south on California to Edmunds for the second turnaround, then heading north on California to West Seattle High School’s southwest parking lot (just north of Hanford). The parking lot is the finish area, where we will have vendors giving out products to the participants. We will also be announcing the top 3 finishers of the race, male and female, plus the winners of the costume contest.

The race is open to everyone; runners, joggers, walkers, dogs, cats, even kids! There is a time limit, and those in the back will be getting followed by the vehicles that deliver the floats, hence the name Float Dodger. If you are slower than 4 mph (15 minutes a mile), then you may be asked to finish on the sidewalk, but you will be able to finish. A steady pace walking will keep you in the race and on the course, so you don’t have to run any of it to be able to complete the entire distance. The start time means that there will be a good amount of your West Seattle neighbors lining the course waiting for the parade.

100% of the profits benefit West Seattle Rotary and the Lymphoma/Leukemia Society. We are still looking for sponsors; call West Seattle Runner for more details.

And this Sunday, you can sign up – and ask questions – noon-4 pm, at WS Runner. Get $5 off your registration fee, enter prize drawings, check out the massage booth, and share in a birthday cake for WSR co-proprietor Lori McConnell! WSR is upstairs on the northwest corner of California/Charlestown. (P.S. If you’re worried about running and not having a place to watch the parade – WSR says there’ll be a special viewing zone for participants.)