The last event on the track at Winslow High School will have nothing to do with the high school. And it comes only a day before the track will be torn up.

The Roland Dyer Memorial 5K race is July 25. Race director Gene Roy said he made an appeal at Monday’s town meeting so the race could still be run as scheduled.

“They’re really in a hurry to get it done,” Roy said. “I actually talked to the guy who was supervising the destruction. Our race is the 25th, and apparently they’re going to start tearing it up on the 26th.”

The Roland Dyer Memorial is a small race — Roy says the usual number of entrants is between 30 and 50 — but its history dates back to the mid 1970s.

“10Ks were popular back in the early 80s,” Roy said. “Now it’s a 5K, which is the race of choice now.”

The town of Winslow is getting a loan to pay for the new track, but Dyer said the race will help raise money for new track equipment not covered by the town, such as hurdles and pole vault pits.

Dyer, a 1990 inductee into the Maine Running Hall of Fame, grew up in Winslow and graduated from Winslow High School.

“Roland was interested in a lot of things,” Roy said. “Running was his favorite thing. He wasn’t the first race director in the state of Maine, but probably the most ardent race director. He was the man who got road racing going in the state of Maine.”

Tinia Dyer Graham, Dyer’s niece (Roy says Tinia never met Roland), will be serving as co-director of the race this year, and will possibly be the race director in future years.

“We do plan on keeping the race alive,” Roy said.

The race begins at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25. There is also a 1-mile run at 6 p.m., and a half-mile fun run for children 12 and under at 6:15. Registration costs $3 for the 1-mile, $10 for the 5K, and $10 for both. The fun run is free. For more information, email Roy at generoy1@gmail.com or Graham at tiniatd@hotmail.com.

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Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield is hosting a 5K on July 29. The official name is SVFCU’s Egg Scramble 5K Run/Walk. The annual event is in conjunction with the town’s Egg Festival, and proceeds benefit local food pantries.

This is the fourth year of the 5K. Kelley Carter, the vice president of operations at SVFCU, said numbers have gone up each year — from about 30 this first year, to the high 40s in 2010, and 75 last summer.

“I’m shooting for 100 this year,” Carter said. “It’s been gaining in recognition.”

Carter said the beneficiaries include Newport Community Food Bank, Community Christmas Project in Pittsfield, Tri-Town Food Cupboard, Corinna UMC Food Pantry, and Widows and Orphans Food Cupboard. He said this specific event raises about $2,000, and combined with other annual events, the credit union raises over $10,000 each year.

Registration is $17 (with a race T-shirt) in advance and $20 on race day. If you don’t want a T-shirt, the cost is $12 in advance and $15 on race day. To register, go to http://www.svfcume.com/eggscramble.html or contact Carter at 487-5576 or kcarter@svfcume.com.

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Amy Lawson, the founder and head coach at Kennebec Valley Coaching, works with people to help them become runners. She’s noticed that runners are not always well-rounded in their physical fitness.

“Distance runners are infamous for not being able to touch their toes and not being able to do a push-up,” Lawson said.

So Lawson often talks about a triangle of strength, flexibility, and endurance, with each being important to a runner’s makeup.

Lawson says strength will give you better muscle tone, better blood flow to your muscles, and allow you to use your muscles more efficiently during a run.

“A lot of times at the end of a race, people start to hunch over while they’re running, and they have really poor posture,” Lawson said. “That’s usually because of a lack of upper-body strength.”

Flexibility, Lawson says, will help prevent injuries, and allow you to heal faster when you are injured. She said runners are also infamous for having tight hamstrings, and very often, chronic low back pain can be traced to those tight hamstrings.

“The more you increase your mileage, your speed, your intensity — that’s when you really want to focus on adding flexibility,” Lawson said.

Lawson said it’s actually pretty easy to do strength and flexibility training at home. She suggests things like push-ups, squats, and lunges for strength training. For flexibility, Lawson tells people to simply touch their toes for 10 seconds, three times a day, and she says over time you will notice results with your hamstrings.

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The Old Hallowell Day 5K, in its 33rd year is scheduled for Saturday, July 21. As of Friday afternoon, 151 people had signed up for the race. Registration is $20, and there is also a $3 deposit for timing chips, which is refunded upon return of the chip at the end of the race. There will be awards given to the top male and female finishers in 14 different age categories.

Runners or walkers can also enter in teams of three, which can be all female, all male, or mixed gender.

After the 5K race, there will be a 1K fun run for children 10 and under. No registration is necessary for the fun run.

For registration information, go to https://www.runreg.com/Net/Confirmed/3046 .

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The second annual Richmond Area Health Center 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, part of the Richmond Days celebration, is scheduled for Saturday, July 28. The race was organized by Meneah Raymond, a nurse practitioner at the health center and an avid runner who has completed several marathons.

“Exercise is the best anti-depressant, the best anti-hypertensive medication, the best treatment for obesity and the best treatment for anxiety,” Raymond said in a press release.

Pre-registration is $20 to receive a race T-shirt and $14 without a shirt. Same-day registration is $25 for a shirt or $20 without. To register, go to http://running4free.com/RaceDetails.aspx?raceid=130 or for more information, call the health center at 737-4359.

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The Wilton Blueberry Festival 10K Run or Walk and Kids 1 Mile Race is Friday afternoon, Aug. 3. Registration is at 4:30 p.m., the 10K walk begins at 5:30, followed by the 1 mile (for ages 15 and under) at 6 and the 10K run at 6:30.

The cost is $10 for the 1 mile and $12 for the 10K, or an extra $2 per event for same-day registration. There will be prizes for the top finishers in several age groups. Registration information is available at http://www.wiltonbbf.com/Events.html or by calling the Wilton Town Office at 645-4961.

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com