Joe Downtown: 1,500 runners and counting are set for Sprinkler Sprint

By Joe Schoenmann

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013 | 5:45 p.m.

This Saturday’s Sprinkler Sprint is gaining steam, with some 1,500 runners having signed up for the 5K run/walk that includes several water zones to keep them cool.

Founder Tanya Carrier, a schoolteacher, said Tuesday that almost 1,500 runners have signed up already but she is still hoping for 2,000 by the start of the race, 7 a.m., Saturday.

Carrier’s LLC, Downtown Runners, is organizing the 3.1-mile course, which begins in front of Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. 7th St., and ends on a giant Slip and Slide.

The course includes the Misty Tunnel, a street-wide tunnel on Fremont Street where runners will be cooled with industrial-size misters; the Water Cannon Blast Zone where freezing water will rain down on runners; and the Super Soaking Squirt Gun Zone, described as a squirt gun battle where runners will be the innocent bystanders who get soaked.

Just before the finish line will also be the Ice Pop Stop, where frozen ice pops will be handed out to participants, courtesy of Zappos.com.

The “after party” in front of the high school will include DJ music and food by local vendors.

Wanna-be runners can still register at ticketcake.com. Tickets are $15 for children 6-13 and $50 for adults.