COCHRANE— Ready, set, wait… The Great Cochrane Outhouse Races has put the brakes on this year’s 20th annual contest which will now go-ahead Sept. 19, allowing more time to plan during a transitional year.
Ryan Baum, president of the Young Professionals Rotary Club, said with the event changing hands this year from Karrie Pearce, owner of the Heavenly Outhouse Boutique, they want to maintain its crowd-pleasing reputation and ensure the best turnout possible.
“We felt that we wouldn’t be able to do this justice as quickly as it needed to be put together,” Baum said. “We realized it would probably be better for all of us if we had a little bit more time to execute it.
“With Alberta opening back up from the pandemic it’s allowed us to get back to a few other events, and our thoughts were just that we’d have a little bit more time to prepare it properly.”
The Outhouse Races was formerly held in the last week of September for many years, so a later start is not unusual.
“We’ll either be wearing track shoes or snowshoes,” Baum said.
Teams of five will be pit against each other on a short course through Historic Downtown, with four runners, and one person sitting atop the decorated throne. Two teams will run at a time until every outhouse has had its chance to shine.
For anyone who has not been, Baum said, it is a unique experience that keeps folks coming back each year to join in on the antics, and it’s all for a good cause.
This year 100 per cent of the funds raised are going toward the Young Professional Rotary Club of Cochrane Emergency Relief Fund which seeks to support families and organizations in need within the community.
“The pandemic has been a little eye-opening for us, where certain organizations were well looked after and other organizations and families were forgotten about,” Baum said. “Not for any ill intent, but because there are just so many people in need at this time.”
Registration opens for the races on Aug. 23 online at heavenlyouthouse.com or in person at Heavenly Outhouse or Cochrane Toyota.
