BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
There is only one way to start your day off right on July 27: lace up your running shoes and head out to St. Joseph fo the annual SJO 5K Race/Walk and Kids’ Fun Run to support the St. Joseph Middle School and St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls and boys cross country and track teams.
Since its inception in 2007, the SJO 5K has helped pay for uniforms, warm-ups, travel expenses and funded costs incurred during the season.
“In the past couple years the SJO5K has been able to help offset some of the cost to send the high school XC runners to the Nike running camp in Colorado,” board member Kara Preston said. “We’ve also been able to help with purchasing t-shirt’s for teams making it to state.”
Preston said these programs echo St. Joseph’s priority of a family environment that provides an opportunity for athletes to challenge themselves while being part of a long-standing tradition of State meet appearances.
The morning of the SJO 5K is no different.
“We’ve been blessed to have a great turn out for this event,” Preston said. “The community has been incredibly supportive and the number of volunteers has grown the past couple years. It continues to be a fun and fast end of summer run/walk that supports a great cause in our community.”
As the number of SJO 5K participants have increased both in support of the school programs and the ease of course, flat and fast, the organizing committee has focused on making the morning something everyone can enjoy.
“We want people to have fun, enjoy the race and competition with their fellow runners/walkers,” Preston said. “We want them to enjoy seeing familiar faces and make new friends as well. And it’s always fun to hear the PR Bell being rung at the finish line!”
The top three runners in each age group will receive medals and the top 200 finishers will receive a bonus gift.
“We are also very lucky to have The Wheelhouse be a sponsor and host a Post Race Brunch Bash: 20-percent off a brunch meal with race bib.”
Registration for the SJO 5K is now open. Online registration will remain open until July 19. Race day registration at the St. Joseph Methodist Church will begin at 5:45 a.m. and close promptly at 7:00 a.m.
