When things heat up, life slows down. But the heat of summer shouldn't be an excuse for people to vegetate indoors. Instead, the whole family is invited to take a stroll when Methodist Family Health presents its eighth annual Walk for Children and Families on Aug. 1 at the North Little Rock side of the Big Dam Bridge.
There will be parking with free shuttle service from Crystal Hill Elementary School, 5001 NorthShore Drive.
After check-in and on-site registration at 5:30 p.m., people will set off together at 6:30 p.m., walking at their own pace for however long they feel like walking.
"You can walk any distance you wish," explains Jane Dennis, director of communications for the nonprofit. "Some people go halfway and turn around. Some people go the whole distance. It's not a competition."
Everyone should end up back at Cook's Landing Park, where pizza and ice cream will be waiting and the Gable Bradley Band will provide entertainment.
Of course, walking across the bridge at the beginning of August, even in the evening, is a little warm, to say the least. But no worries.
"We'll help you cool off," Dennis promises. There will be water games with water squirters, and organizers will provide bandanas to be soaked in icy water to keep everybody cool.
Registration costs $20 ($50 for families). A portion of the money raised will help fund an "extreme makeover" of the nonprofit's school on Fillmore Street in Little Rock. The building sees a lot of use and is badly in need of new paint, flooring and a general sprucing up. Another part of the funds will help finish a playground at the nonprofit's hospital in Maumelle.
"Getting outdoors is important for those kids," Dennis adds. "The playground is going to be a really popular place."
Call (501) 906-4201 or visit methodistfamily.org.
Spinning wheels
July isn't usually prime time for bike rides. Most have petered out, bowing to the mighty Arkansas summer heat. But not the Mello Velos bike club's Wampoo Roadeo.
For the curious, "Wampoo" comes from Wampoo Lateral Road and Wampoo Road, which intersect on the route. But why that spot is named Wampoo ...
"It's something to do in July when there's no other big rides going on," says organizer Charlie Hart.
The 62- or 50-mile bike ride is dedicated to the memory of Marilyn Fulper, a member of the Mello Velos who was killed in 2010 when her bicycle was struck by a car that ran through a red light at the intersection of Rodney Parham and Cantrell roads in Little Rock. Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas created a fund in her name that supports bike education and safety, buying free helmets that have been given away during public events; the fund has also installed bike repair stations on the Arkansas River Trail.
Organizers will set up at 6 a.m. with the ride starting at 7 a.m. Saturday at All Souls Church, 4601 Walker's Corner Road in Scott.
There are rest stops and sag wagons along the way, but Hart urges newcomers to take two water bottles and to be prepared for a hot, windy ride, particularly on the 62-mile route.
"You have to work your way to Lonoke, and it gets kind of hot over there and windy by that time," he says. The rest stops are good places to gauge just how far riders want to go.
Those who make it to the end will be rewarded with a cool watermelon feast provided by Hardin Farms and door prizes from local merchants.
Registration is a minimum $10 donation (cash or check) to the Marilyn Fulper Memorial Fund, and there's no preregistration deadline.
"It's old school," Hart says. "You want to come, just come out that morning, sign up, give your $10 and ride."
Call (501) 590-9525.
Triple act
Active children (those not glued to electronic screens) spend their days riding bikes, swimming or running around outside. Why not get a medal for it?
The Conway Kids' Triathlon gives children that chance at 8 a.m. Aug. 2.
"Our mission is to encourage kids to become healthy through exercise and find a way to do that that they enjoy," race director Shannon Milam says. "We just try to challenge them to focus on completing an event that maybe they never thought was possible."
When the triathlon began in 1998, about 75 kids participated and it was held at Hendrix College. Renovations to the pool, wellness facilities and parking lots necessitated a move to the University of Central Arkansas in the intervening years. Now UCA is getting a facelift, and the race has moved back to Hendrix.
"Kind of like we're going back home, I guess," says Milam. But with more kids -- 360 raced in 2013.
Kids will get to swim their way through Hendrix's new, state-of-the art pool. As for the other parts of the triathlon, the run will go through campus, and the bike ride will wind through the Village at Hendrix neighborhood.
This is not a race designed solely for budding Olympians. Children of all skill levels are welcome to give it a go.
"Our race is known for lots of kids who've never done one before," Milam says. "There's not that intimidating factor. Lots of kids, it's their first one to do, then they end up loving it and they look for another one."
Of course, there's a pretty big difference between your average 6-year-old and 15-year-old in coordination, stamina and skill. So the courses vary with age. Ages 6 to 10 will do a 50-yard swim, two-mile bike ride and half-mile run. Those distances double for the 11 to 15 age bracket.
Every finisher will receive a medal, and while trophies are awarded to the top finishers in the different age categories, the focus is on completion, on reaching a goal. "We try to emphasize that this is all about fun," Milam says. "If you want to add the competitive aspect to it, that's totally up to you."
Registration is $20 plus the cost of a USA Triathlon membership. On Friday, the price goes up to $25. The deadline is 7 p.m. Aug. 1. They expect to reach the participation limit of 400 children, so it's best to register early.
Call (501) 505-2966 or visit conwaykidstri.com.
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ActiveStyle on 07/21/2014