It's just over five weeks until the 2021 Dubbo Stampede and excitement is already brewing.
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This will be the 10th anniversary of the Stampede.
Stampede committee president Nathan Weeks said after the virtual Stampede last year, everyone was ready to be back participating at a live event.
"The Stampede has such a great atmosphere. It's fantastic to see the elite athletes that come and attempt to beat the course records and just as exciting to see the families out enjoying a walk around the zoo," he said.
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"My favourite memory is in 2019, watching one of the Wallaby Wheel participants come across the finish line unassisted-you could see on his face what the achievement meant to him, the effort that he had put in to achieve his goal. Participation and achieving individual goals is what the Stampede is all about."
Mr Weeks said the committee was aiming to put on the biggest and best event possible, while adhering to restrictions.
The event is also supporting the Dubbo Touch Football Association and their project to get lights at their fields.
"So if you or your family use these ovals for cricket, footy training, touch footy, to throw a ball or Frisbee, come along and support the stampede in supporting this project and allowing more usability of these ovals," Mr Weeks said.
"Need another reason? The Stampede is a great day out, a time for families to do something active together, individuals to achieve goals and push themselves."
This year, a focus of the committee is growing the Wallaby Wheel.
Mr Weeks gave a shoutout to Anthony and Maree Barnes from Dubbo Sportspower and "inspiring athlete" Alexandria Eves who were passionate about the Wallaby Wheel and inclusivity of the Dubbo Stampede.
"Sportspower is providing prize money for the Wallaby Wheel, which is a first for the event. The Wallaby Wheel is something that we really want to grow," Mr Weeks said.
"Alexandria, Maree and some personal trainers in town with the support of Westhaven have developed a training program for participants to get ready for the Stampede. I think there is around 20 participants at this stage and it's such an exciting program and result."
For the safety of the participants, a decision has been made to ban anyone from Sydney from taking part in this year's run.
"If we have 1000 participants or more who all became close contacts and had to isolate for 14 days that would be devastating for the local community, and all that could happen from just a single case of COVID attending the event," Mr Weeks said.
"We want to give participants and the local community confidence that the event will be safe and we are doing all the planning we can to ensure the best event possible."
Mr Weeks reassured the participants that the committee was constantly looking at the restrictions and case numbers, making decisions that were in the best interests of Dubbo and the community.
Volunteers are always needed to help the event come together. The president has encouraged anyone who wants to be part of the Stampede organising committee to put their hand up.
"It's very much a team effort. Everything everyone sees from the Stampede is from some great local volunteers who are passionate about putting on a great event," he said.
A big thank you was given to "hero" Paul Taylor for organising all of the logistics.
The Stampede will be held at Taronga Western Plains Zoo on August 29.
Registration is available via the Dubbo Stampede website.
Special merchandise to commemorate the Stampede's 10-year anniversary is also available.
Do you have a good Stampede story from the last decade to share? get in touch via orlander.ruming@dailyliberal.com.au.