The Cherishing Children Glow Run 5K and 10K will begin after on-site registration and packet pickup at 5 p.m. Friday at the Frisco Stage, 200 S. First St. in Rogers.
Online registration is available until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The 5K, 10K and a one-mile walk cost $30 per person (students 18 and under pay $25). There is also a $15 400-yard Superhero Dash for kids ages 12 and under. Glow on your own (donate without running) for $25.
Packet pickup will be available for online registrants from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at Rush Running, 226 S. First St. Registration won't be available at Rush Running, but runners can sign up on race day at Frisco Stage.
Local vendors will sell food; and all ages will find family-friendly inflatables and activities from 5 to 8 p.m.
The 400-yard Superhero Dash starts at 6:15 p.m., the mile walk at 6:30 p.m. and The Glow From Head to Toe costume contest and parade begin at 6:45 p.m. The 10K will follow at 7 and the 5K at 8.
The 10K and 5K will be chip-timed. At 8:45 p.m., awards will be given to the top three overall and the top 5 by age group.
These runs and festivities are presented by the Children's Advocacy Center of Benton County, whose vision and mission statements are to eliminate child abuse by empowering children to find their voices.
Organizers will hold a Candlelight Vigil at 7:30 p.m. where they will pass out and light 439 candles for the 439 confirmed cases of child abuse in Benton County in 2016.
For registration and more information, visit cacbentonco.com.
Rocket 5K
Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys is holding its annual Rocket 5K Run and 3K Walk in Little Rock on Saturday.
The 5K will begin in front of the school at 8 a.m. sharp, and the 3K will start about five minutes after. Both races will take a spin through the neighborhood behind the school and finish up at the football field.
Awards will be given three-deep to the fastest racers overall and by age group. Runners will receive T-shirts while supplies last.
Zeke, the 13-year-old German shepherd resident of Catholic High and longtime leader of the 3K, died in May, may he rest in peace. His 3K mantle has been passed to a dog named Titus. All dogs are welcome during the 3K -- provided they are on leashes.
After the 5K and 3K are over (around 8:45 a.m.), there will be a Kids' Rocket Dash on the track beside the school. Tiny racers ages 1 to 4 will run 100 meters, while ages 5 to 10 will run 300 meters. Each entry costs $10, and all participants will receive a medal.
The day isn't just for the fleet of foot (or paw). Post-race activities will be open to the whole family, including bounce houses, putting greens, Baggo and refreshments.
Proceeds from the Rocket 5K benefit the Catholic High School Foundation, which provides need-based tuition assistance and supplements teachers' salaries.
Online registration is available until noon Thursday and costs $25 for the 5K or 3K. Packet pickup and race-day registration will be at the school beginning at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, for an extra $5.
Don't want to break out the running shoes but still want to donate? Register as a virtual runner for $20.
For registration and more information, see lrchs.org.
Cardiac Classic Bike Ride
Presented by the Arkansas Heart Foundation, the Cardiac Classic will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock.
Riders can choose from four distances: 20 miles, 50 miles or 100K (62-ish miles), and there is a new 5K Family Fun Ride option.
The long rides share the same out-and-back route leaving Burns Park, crossing the Big Dam Bridge, heading west out the River Trail toward Two Rivers Park, Pinnacle Mountain and then Wye Mountain, with turnarounds for the various distances.
Online registration for any of the three long rides costs $55 and is available until noon Friday. Race-day registration will be available at 8 a.m. Saturday for an extra $5. The 5K Family Fun Ride is $30 per family.
See arkansasheartfoundation.org.
Author's Note on RussVegas Half Marathon
Unfortunately, the RussVegas Half Marathon (which will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday by the Downtown Depot at 201 N. Denver St. in Russellville) is sold out. It's the curse of writing a column so close to a race day.
However, the RussVegas Half Marathon does something fairly unique that needs to be recognized: Organizers offer packet pickups around the state rather than just at one place on the day before the event.
This reporter will be taking advantage of the packet pickup offered from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Go! Running, 1819 N. Grant St. in Little Rock. The organizers are offering packet pickups today in Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Wednesday in Conway, and both Thursday and Friday in Russellville.
Sometimes an avid runner can't attend a pre-race packet pickup due to distance and time, and race-day packet pickup is always stressful. Providing packet pickups in different cities leading up to the event was a big factor in my choosing to run this event. It has got to be a headache for the organizers and deserves to be appreciated.
Keep an eye on this race for next year, russvegashalf.com.
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ActiveStyle on 04/17/2017