9-1-1 Festival 5K Challenge sees changes this year

HALEYVILLE   -  This year’s 9-1-1 Festival 5K Challenge, sponsored by Encore Sportsfit and Lakeland Community Hospital,  will be different than in previous years, and participants need to be aware of these changes, noted Beth Moore, one of the event organizers.
“This year will not be an extreme challenge or color  fun run,” Moore stressed. “This is a straight road race.”
The 5K run kicks off early Saturday morning, June 1, being one of the first events  held as part of the city’s annual 9-1-1 Festival.
Although registration is  being advertised to begin 6 a.m. at the park across from Downtown Grill, Moore encourages those who plan to participate to register ahead of time if at all possible.
“If you haven’t pre-registered, they can pre-register at 6,” Moore explained. “This will be the first year, (the event) has been timed.”
Those planning to participate can stop by Encore/Sportsfit, located in the Village East Shopping Center, Highway 195, pick up and complete an application form.
Entry Fee is $25 for any entry level, except for relay teams of three per team, which will be $50 per team. Applications can also be found on the Encore/Sportsfit Facebook page, Moore stated.
Cash or checks will be accepted, with checks made payable to the 9-1-1 Festival.
Participants can choose to either run individually or in a three-person relay team, organizers said.
“It’s officially timed and it is pre-programmed in the computer,” Moore stated.
Pre-registration cutoff is Friday, May 31, at 6 p.m.
The first 100 participants will receive a free T-shirt with limited size on a first come, first serve basis, on the size of shirt available, Moore explained.
Age divisions include 8-13, 14-30 and 31 plus, with the top three winners in each category and an overall male and female recognized, she said.
In the relay teams of three, each team member will run a mile, with the primary route starting at the park, going 23rd Street, turning left onto 9th Avenue, then taking another left back to 21st Street, making a right onto Alabama Avenue then proceeding to 19th Street.
Participants will run three laps, a mile each each, according to Moore.
All proceeds raised from the event will go toward the Gary Warren Scholarship Foundation.
“We’d like to encourage everyone to participate,” said Moore.
Winners will be announced after the race ends around 8 a.m, organizers said.
Contact Moore or Bianca Garrard at Encore/Sportsfit at 205-486-2753.