Living Free Gym is preparing to kick off the new year with its first 5K, a family-friendly event that will combine running, fitness competitions, food and activities at Discovery Park.
The Living Free 5K is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 2, beginning at 9 a.m. Organizers hope the event will draw strong community participation while introducing more residents to Living Free Gym and its health and fitness mission.
Rather than serving solely as a fundraiser, the event is designed to raise awareness of Living Free’s programs and provide residents with an active way to begin the new year. Organizers also want participants and their families to remain after the race to enjoy the planned festivities and socialize.
The 5K will be held on a park course that can accommodate runners and walkers. Strollers will also be permitted as part of the effort to make the event accessible to families. A virtual 5K option will be available for supporters who are unable to participate in person.
Early-bird registration for the adult 5K is $35 through Oct. 31. The price will increase to $45 for regular registration and $55 on the day of the race.
Adult registration includes a race T-shirt, breakfast burrito, finisher medal, race bib, finish-line refreshments, sponsor swag and admission to the post-race festivities. Virtual participants will receive a T-shirt, finisher medal, race bib and sponsor swag.
Children ages 12 and younger may participate in either the Kids 1K or the 5K for $20 when registered with an adult. Registration for children ages 4 through 12 includes a breakfast burrito, race bib, finisher ribbon, finish-line refreshments and access to the festivities. Children ages 3 and younger may participate free with a registered adult and will receive a finisher ribbon and access to the post-race activities.
The 5K will begin at 9 a.m.. Finish-line refreshments will be available as runners complete the course.
Post-race festivities will begin at 9:30 a.m. and are expected to include breakfast, music, yard games, bounce houses, race-bib coloring and several fitness competitions.
Awards for the 5K are scheduled to be presented at approximately 10 a.m. Male and female participants will be recognized in four age divisions: 17 and younger, 18 to 34, 35 to 49 and 50 and older.
The Kids 1K will begin at 10:15 a.m., allowing parents who participate in the 5K an opportunity to finish their race before watching or accompanying their children. Kids awards will be presented at approximately 10:45 a.m. to the first-place boy and first-place girl.
Additional competition will continue after the races with planned pull-up, bench press, push-up, burpee and 100-yard dash challenges. Winners of the fitness competitions are scheduled to be announced at noon, and the event will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. The schedule remains subject to change.
Living Free Gym is also seeking businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring the inaugural event.
The top Finish Line sponsorship is available for $1,000. It includes prominent logo placement on the race T-shirt, promotional flyers and the event sponsor banner, along with signage at the start and finish line, the staging area and each kilometer of the course. The package also includes vendor space, four complimentary race entries, a dedicated Facebook spotlight, recognition in related newspaper coverage and the opportunity to provide items for participant swag bags.
The $500 Premium sponsorship includes premium T-shirt logo placement, three signs along the course, a staging-area sign, vendor space, two race entries, online recognition, newspaper recognition and placement on the sponsor banner displayed at Living Free Gym after the event.
A $250 Festivities sponsorship includes a logo on the race T-shirt, online and event-day recognition, a course sign, a sign in the festival area and the opportunity to contribute items to the sponsor swag.
Registration for the event is available at LivingFreeHealth.org/ResolutionRun.
