Healthy, friendly 5K this May

Published 10:26 pm Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Families can have fun and get active at the park this May with the Healthy Suffolk Spring 5K Run/Walk and One-Mile Fun Walk. This event will be held rain or shine on May 18 at Bennett’s Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road.

Check in will be at 7 a.m. followed by warm-up at 7:30 a.m. Both the 5K and one-miler will begin at 8 a.m. Trophies will be awarded at 9 a.m., and prize drawings will be at 9:15 a.m.

Daniel Harrell, communications and outreach manager for Healthy Suffolk, said that the organization has been holding races like these for more than a decade — most notably the Peanut Fest 5K in the fall.

Email newsletter signup

Their spring event offers runners and walkers a route with no stoppages through the Bennett’s Creek community in North Suffolk.

“It’s a lovely route through the neighborhoods and the Bennett’s Creek community,” Harrell said in a phone interview. “People (in previous years) have gotten out on their front lawns to cheer on participants.”

He emphasized that this is a relaxed event for all skill levels. It is not a timed trial. It’s simply a fun opportunity to get outdoors and get active.

“The Healthy Suffolk events are not geared toward the professional runner. These are geared toward the average Suffolk citizen that wants to get out and get moving a little bit,” he said.

All participants will receive a finisher medal, and awards will be given for the first-, second- and third-place winners of the 5K. There will also be a child’s first place award for both the 5K and one-miler, with any child under the age of 13 eligible. Pets will also receive participation trophies.

Registration will cost $25 before May 3, and only those that have registered prior to May 3 will be guaranteed a T-shirt. The cost rises to $35 from May 3 to 18. Participants may register at the event using cash or credit card.

Children ages 12 and under may participate for free but will not receive a free T-shirt. They will be available for purchases of $12.

All participants must check in prior to the race. Packet pickup will be from noon to 6 p.m. May 17 at Bennett’s Creek Park, and also between 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. May 18 at the race location. Participants are encouraged to pick up their packets the day before the race.

There will also be a Sentara Health Fair for race participants both during packet pickup and the morning of the race.

“They’re going to be at our next few races to offer doctors, health screenings and things like that,” Harrell said.

Visit healthysuffolkva.org/5K for more information.