2008 Woodie Awards
First annual 5K road race to begin this weekend
Katherine Neubert, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
The first annual 5K road race "Spring into Action" is being held tomorrow at 9 a.m.
"Many of our members are usual 5K runners and currently training to run the Boston Marathon," said Alpha Phi Omega President, Alana Einhorn. "After attending many other 5K races on campus and in the area, they saw what a great success a 5K can be and were enthusiastic in attempting to organize our own."
The route takes runners around the outer loop of the academic buildings; up N. Pleasant Street, past Lederle Graduate Research Center down Commonwealth Avenue, down Massachusetts Avenue, around Haigis Mall, back up N. Pleasant Street, taking a left at the Fine Arts Center, which will bring them up through Herter, finishing the race where it began, according to Einhorn.
UMass police have been notified of the event and the University's public safety department has also approved it. Because of the route of the race, no public roads will be closed. There will also be two UMass Emergency Medical Services (EMS) present.
The race is being presented by Alpha Phi Omega, and is scheduled to start at the south steps of the Student Union. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed community service organization at the University. This is their first year organizing the race and they hope it is a huge success, according to Einhorn.
"This weekend is Family Weekend and we're hoping that students get their family and friends involved to come out and enjoy a day of fun, exercise, great prizes and the opportunity to help support local homeless shelters," said Einhorn.
Tickets are being sold for $5 at Tix Unlimited in the Student Union. Participants can purchase tickets at the race tomorrow for $10, or bring a bag of donated clothing and still pay only $5. The race is open to everyone.
Free water bottles will be given to the first 50 people who register tomorrow.
Raffle tickets can also be purchased for $1 each at the Alpha Phi Omega table in the Campus Center until 2 p.m. today, and can also be purchased at the race. The raffle will then be drawn at the end of the race.
Participants can donate clothing, non-perishable food, household items, and sporting equipment.
"All collected clothing donations will be stored and placed into our annual Fill-A-Bus event which will take place this year during the week of May 12 to the 16," said Einhorn. "For this event, Transit Services generously donates the usage of one bus and parks it at different locations on campus each day."
Items are then delivered to the Amherst Survival Center and other local homeless shelters.
Various local businesses donated items and gift certificates to be awarded as race and raffle prizes including: Pasta E Basta, Amherst Books, Sunoco, Newbury Comics, Cinemark, Interskate 91, Chili's Panda East, Domino's, Rolando's, D.P. Dough, Crazy Noodles Café, and Amherst Brewing Company. UMass Retail Dining Services also donated cases of bottled water to distribute at the race.
Katherine Neubert can be reached at kneubert@student.umass.edu.
"Many of our members are usual 5K runners and currently training to run the Boston Marathon," said Alpha Phi Omega President, Alana Einhorn. "After attending many other 5K races on campus and in the area, they saw what a great success a 5K can be and were enthusiastic in attempting to organize our own."
The route takes runners around the outer loop of the academic buildings; up N. Pleasant Street, past Lederle Graduate Research Center down Commonwealth Avenue, down Massachusetts Avenue, around Haigis Mall, back up N. Pleasant Street, taking a left at the Fine Arts Center, which will bring them up through Herter, finishing the race where it began, according to Einhorn.
UMass police have been notified of the event and the University's public safety department has also approved it. Because of the route of the race, no public roads will be closed. There will also be two UMass Emergency Medical Services (EMS) present.
The race is being presented by Alpha Phi Omega, and is scheduled to start at the south steps of the Student Union. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed community service organization at the University. This is their first year organizing the race and they hope it is a huge success, according to Einhorn.
"This weekend is Family Weekend and we're hoping that students get their family and friends involved to come out and enjoy a day of fun, exercise, great prizes and the opportunity to help support local homeless shelters," said Einhorn.
Tickets are being sold for $5 at Tix Unlimited in the Student Union. Participants can purchase tickets at the race tomorrow for $10, or bring a bag of donated clothing and still pay only $5. The race is open to everyone.
Free water bottles will be given to the first 50 people who register tomorrow.
Raffle tickets can also be purchased for $1 each at the Alpha Phi Omega table in the Campus Center until 2 p.m. today, and can also be purchased at the race. The raffle will then be drawn at the end of the race.
Participants can donate clothing, non-perishable food, household items, and sporting equipment.
"All collected clothing donations will be stored and placed into our annual Fill-A-Bus event which will take place this year during the week of May 12 to the 16," said Einhorn. "For this event, Transit Services generously donates the usage of one bus and parks it at different locations on campus each day."
Items are then delivered to the Amherst Survival Center and other local homeless shelters.
Various local businesses donated items and gift certificates to be awarded as race and raffle prizes including: Pasta E Basta, Amherst Books, Sunoco, Newbury Comics, Cinemark, Interskate 91, Chili's Panda East, Domino's, Rolando's, D.P. Dough, Crazy Noodles Café, and Amherst Brewing Company. UMass Retail Dining Services also donated cases of bottled water to distribute at the race.
Katherine Neubert can be reached at kneubert@student.umass.edu.
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