Murrysville recreation officials seeking volunteers to help with 'Pipeline Purge' race

How many times can you climb Townsend Park’s daunting “Heart Attack Hill” in two hours?

That’s what Murrysville Recreation Department officials want to find out at the Townsend’s Pipeline Purge race, set for July 17 at the park, located just off Twin Oaks Drive.

“They will be running a one-mile course straight up the gas line, to then weave back down through the woods to run as many laps as they can in two hours,” said Director Carly Greene. “We will award the top three men and women.”

And in addition to runners — 40 registration slots remain as of Thursday afternoon — Greene is looking for volunteers to help with the event.

“We need help with the setup, guiding folks to parking, manning water stations and snack stations, cheering for the runners along the course and tallying the runners at each lap to be sure they get counted correctly,” Greene said.

Each runner will receive a T-shirt and pint glass at registration.

The department is coming off a (literally) smaller version held last month for children, the Small Fry Scramble, which Greene said went very well.

“It was so fun. I think we had about 35 signed up. The little 2- and 3-year-olds running around with their race boots on, I just wanted to melt,” she said. “We were a little short on volunteers, though, and the Purge has a lot more moving parts, so the more volunteers we can get, the better.”

Those interested in running can register at RunSignUp.com, clicking the “Find a Race” button and entering “pipeline purge” in the search box.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up at SignUp.com/go/UmOzBQv.

For this and other park events happening this summer, see MurrysvillePArecreation.com.