Some of the runners at Saturday’s Salmon Walk in Mission went the extra mile. Literally.
The half-day event at the Tamasklikt Cultural Institute featured a 53-mile bicycle race, a 10K run, a 5K run, a 6-mile hike and a 3-mile family fun walk. But due to an error in course measurement, the 5K — usually 3.1 miles — ended up being 4.5 miles and the 10K was 6.4 miles instead of 6.2.
Shaindel Beers of Pendleton was among the 40-or-so competitors, and said despite the bonus distance in the 10K, she had a good time.
“It was hotter than I thought it would be and the hill was harder,” she said, adding she has been training for about seven months.
As part of the event, which was put on by CTUIR’s Department of Natural Resources, science and outdoor-themed booths and exhibits were on display out front and inside of the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. Among the groups present, Blue Mountain Wildlife had several live raptors inside the building. Outside Kate Ely, a Umatilla Basin Hydrologist, spoke about CTUIR’s water resources program.
“We’re in the first stage of building a conceptual ground water model,” she said. Ely explained that the water resource program is working to develop a computer that will help predict future water table levels.
Wenix Red Elk, an education outreach specialist for the Department of Natural Resources said it was her fifth year coordinating the event.
“For me, my favorite part is that all the staff and volunteers have participated for multiple years. Everyone knows exactly what they’re supposed to be doing,” she said.
“I think it went well. With consideration with how busy our staff has been, it’s been extremely successful.”
This story originally appeared in East Oregonian.
