As far as she can remember, decorated runner Anna Kasapis, hasn't run in one of her home town's major events.
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So she's excited to take on the 39th Terang and District Lions Club Fun Run and Walk this Friday evening.
The 5.92-kilometre walk starts at 6.30pm with the run at 6.45. It starts at Noorat and finishes at Terang RSL Hall.
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Kasapis, who was born and raised in Terang, now lives in Melbourne.
She explained in previous years she had been keen to take part in the fun run but it had clashed with her amateur and professional running commitments.
"I grew up in Terang and my dad (Ray Worland) is part of the Lions club committee," she said.
"He's always said to me 'are you going to come and run?'
"Being a little later in the year this year I said I'd come down and have a run."
Being a little later in the year this year I said I'd come down and have a run.
- Anna Kasapis
She's looking forward to joining her sister, Sarah, and niece in the event.
The run, originally on February 26, was rescheduled to this Friday after being postponed due to state government coronavirus pandemic restrictions last month.
Kasapis won the women's 35-39 world masters 1500m in Perth in 2016.
She's also won state championships, including the open women's mile twice and the open women's 800m once.
The former world champion is still making finals at open level.
She represents Athletics Essendon in amateurs and also competes for Warrnambool-based Duynhoven Perry Sprinting (DPS) on the professional running circuit.
She won the mile at her first Warrnambool Gift in March and enjoyed the opportunity to run in front of her family who don't often get to see her in action.
"It's nice to have that support," she said.
She also finished second place in the 800m at the Geelong Gift in January.
Kasapis explained she is self-coached but she also incorporates DPS speed sessions in her training program.
She competed for Athletics Essendon in the Athletics Victoria Shield League this past summer.
The accomplished athlete, who was a swimmer, took up running when she was about 16.
Her first running coach was Jill McKenzie, who the women's Terang Gift is named after.
Kasapis would move to Ballarat for university and then Melbourne for work.
She is a physical education teacher and head of athletics and cross-country at Kilvington Grammar.
It's possible to register for the fun on the day of the event. There will be buses available to transport runners to the start line.
Warrnambool's Tom Hynes won the men's race last year while Warrnambool's Rachel Ayres won the women's.
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