Fitness and fun are the themes of the Run/Walk 5K Challenge set for June 2 at Delta State University’s Fitness Trail on Bishop Road in Cleveland. The event is designed to attract both serious runners and walkers and those who want to begin their own fitness programs.
“This event will be fun because it’s not about winning. It’s about finishing. Many people have wanted to participate in a 5K event, but they didn’t know if it was an obtainable goal. Our Run/Walk 5K Challenge is a free, fun way for them to experience the excitement of a 5K,” said Leigh Pickard, coordinator of Delta States Healthy Campus/Community Initiative. “There will also be a Kids Fun Run where we will award prizes and give each participant a tee shirt.”
The Run/Walk 5K Challenge — part of HCCI’s Walk It Out Cleveland program — will begin at the Delta State Fitness Trail. After one lap on the track, participants will continue through the Delta State campus, looping back to the Fitness Trail for the finish line.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the challenge starting at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Fun Run will begin at 10 a.m. In the event of rain, the 5K Challenge will be rescheduled for June 9.
The half-mile Delta State Fitness Trail, completed in 2009, is used at all hours of the day by many residents in the Cleveland area. It is just one project of HCCI, which promotes health and fitness on the campuses of Delta State and Cleveland schools and throughout the Cleveland community.
HCCI operates under Delta State’s College of Education. The initiative, now in its fourth year, is funded by the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.
Other HCCI programs include Court Street to Cleveland, in-school nutrition education, Fit-Tastic Fridays, health fairs, a mini-conference on health for local educators, OKRA Camp, and nutritional and fitness counseling.
For more information, contact Leigh Pickard at 662-846-4572, lpickard@deltastate.edu.
