After overeating at Thanksgiving and with stressful finals fast approaching, Gainesville residents might appreciate a Saturday run.
Zen Fitness will hold the Zen 5K and 10K Race For Childhood Wellness Saturday at Haile Plantation Village Center, 5110 SW 91st Drive. The event benefits the Zen Fitness Childhood Wellness Program.
The program involves an essay contest in January at local middle and high schools, including Gainesville High School and Kanapaha Middle School. The students will write about diet and nutrition.
Winners receive nine weeks of training, books and educational material promoting a healthy lifestyle, said Matt Bakos, Zen Fitness trainer and applied physiology and kinesiology senior.
This year’s race is the first Zen Run, but organizers hope to make the run an annual event, Bakos said.
Bakos, the event’s organizer, expects about 400 runners at the event. Of the 400, he estimates about 75 to 100 will be UF students, including members of the track and triathlon clubs.
The run’s route circles an 18-hole golf course. The route will be marked with signs, and volunteers will be on every turn.
Awards will be given to the fastest male and female runners in six age groups. Other race-day events include massages, raffles, food and snacks, according to the event flier.
“I enjoy running because it’s not only a good exercise and easy to do,” environmental engineering junior Aniela Burant said. “It’s a great way to turn negative energy into positive energy. Non-runners should start running because it’s a wonderful way to get into shape and to make yourself feel better as a whole.”
The 5K and 10K start at 9 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Race-day registration is $15 for the 5K and $20 for the 10K. Runners can pay $25 for the 5K and $30 for the 10K to receive a T-shirt and register for the run.
Participants can preregister at thezenfitness.com.
