Lace up those running shoes and get ready to run down a massive decline into the earth and straight back up in a race that is coming to California for the first time.
The national series of the Quarry Crusher Run makes its way to Chula Vista at 8 a.m. on Oct. 28 at the Vulcan Material Company’s Chula Vista quarry, 2275 Hard Rock Road, near the Mattress Firm Amphitheatre.
The run/walk is presented by Hawthorne Cat and supported by Vulcan Materials, the largest producer of construction aggregates.
The event benefits the Chula Vista Firefighter’s Foundation by raising money through sponsorships and ticket sales.
“Vulcan rock quarry asked if we could partner up with them to create an awareness for their facility and the things that the (Chula Vista Firefighter’s) foundation does,” said Josh Sanders, president of the Chula Vista Fire Fighter’s Foundation. “We are excited to host something that is fun for the community and also raise some money for the foundation as well.”
The Chula Vista Firefighters Foundation, a volunteer-run nonprofit, raises money each year to provide for disaster relief, award scholarships for aspiring firefighters and paramedics, and assist needy families during the holidays.
“This is a very unique quarry for California,” said Barbara Goodrich-Welk, projects and external affairs manager for Vulcan’s Western and Mountain West Divisions. “The rock is very, very confident and it’s better quality than anywhere else in the state of California.”
The quarry run/walk race originated in 2012 in the Columbia, South Carolina. Since then, there have been Quarry Runs in Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; Baltimore and San Antonio.
Participants in the Chula VIsta event can run or walk the 3.5 mile route called the Crusher for a $40 registration fee or do the track twice for a 6.2 mile run/walk known as the Double Crusher for a $50 registration fee.
Runners/walkers will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a commemorative finisher’s medal. Register at: Quarrycrusherrun.com.
Quarries are highly regulated so generally the public is not allowed inside, but Goodrich-Welk said this provides an opportunity for the public to see Chula Vista’s quarry and learn about mining and some of the work that is done inside.
