Flamingo flock can toe the line at anti-cancer 5K

Saturday brings a chance to don your hot pink shorts, stick a bird on your head and go for a brisk run to fight cancer.

The third annual Run With the Flock 5K/1M begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday near 4001 N. Rodney Parham Road on streets around the campus of FIS in west Little Rock.

"Flock" as in flock of flamingos.

A one mile run/walk starts at 8:30 a.m., and race awards will be distributed at 8:40.

These footraces support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which will receive the proceeds, says organizer Denise Thrower. "Most of the sponsorship money and participant sign-up money goes to LLS," she says.

In its first two years, Run With the Flock contributed $34,893 to the charity. It funds research into cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and works to improve life for people with blood cancers.

This year she's had bibs printed that say "survivor," "running in memory of" and "running in honor of" so people can write in the name of someone who inspires them and pin it to their backs. On a humid morning when the legs grow weary, seeing those names and being reminded of the cause can keep a racer moving forward, Thrower says.

"It does me," she says. "I run for my parents as well as a bunch of other people I have lost to cancer as well as those still fighting."

"Every year we've grown, so last year we had 353 participants," she adds. Her goal this year is 450.

Timed by Arkansas Runner, racers will tie chips on their shoes and must cross timing mats at the finish line to be included in the results. Racers will pick up a chip near the starting line.

Both running courses begin and end on the FIS campus and will be monitored by the Pulaski County sheriff's office; the one-mile run/walk stays within the campus on roads closed to traffic.

Baby strollers are welcome, and participants are invited to wear costumes.

Among the flock will be Ainsley's Angels -- an organization that provides racing chairs for people with special needs and connects them with people who help them participate, sometimes by pushing wheelchairs. More information is at ainsleysangels.org. (Angel Runners pay their own race entry for all races.)

The overall male and female finishers will receive awards. Age-group awards will go three deep in five-year divisions from 10 and under to 70 and over. The fastest three wheelchair finishers, male and female, will win awards, too.

One-mile finishers will receive a medal.

Online registration for the 5K costs $30 (plus a $2.50 service fee), and the mile run/walk costs $15 (plus $2.50) through 5 p.m. Friday at runsignup.com. Search for the race by name.

Or register in person during packet pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Rock City Running in the Colony West shopping center at 10300 N. Rodney Parham Road.

Race-day registration and packet pickup will be accepted near the start from 6:30-7:15 a.m.

More information is at runsignup.com. For questions not answered there, call (501) 220-4351.

RussVegas Triathlon

The RussVegas Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon on Sunday in Russellville benefit Arkansas Children's Hospital and the River Valley Circle of Friends.

The triathlon includes a 500-yard swim, 15-mile bike and 3.1-mile run. For the Duathlon, racers will run 3.1 miles, bike 15 miles and run 3.1 miles again.

The staging area is at 4148 Pleasant View Road in Pleasant View Park near the disc golf course and slalom ski recreation area on Lake Dardanelle.

Registration costs $85 ($100 on race day). Three-person teams can do the tri as a relay for $140 ($150 on race day). All competitors also need a current USA Triathlon license ($50 for adults, $10 for kids); adults only can buy a one-day permit ($15).

The weekend also includes a children's triathlon Saturday at Russellville Aquatic Center with a limit of 100 racers.

Online registration and more information are at russvegastri.com.

Buffalo River Trail

Hikers and other able-bodied lovers of the outdoors can help push the Buffalo River Trail through the forest around the Bufflao National River while having some fun camping out Oct. 12-18 at Tyler Bend Campground.

Trail project coordinator Mike Reed of Russellville is organizing a working camp-out at the National Park Service site two miles off U.S. 65 and 6 miles south of St. Joe.

He invites anyone to join the campers. Drop in for a day or stay for the weekend or the whole shebang. Volunteers will supply their own sleeping accommodations, water containers and work gloves.

"Safety glasses are very beneficial for some tasks. A day pack for carrying your stuff on the trail is very useful," he says in an email to Ozark Society members. "The Park Service supplies the tools, though you can bring your own if you'd like. The campground has potable water, flush toilets and hot showers."

Volunteers who will camp most of the week can eat group meals by paying $50 into a fund to cover food and other expenses. Contact Reed for details at [email protected].

The volunteers plan to resume work already started on two trail reroutes and do routine maintenance. This section has been under construction for more than 15 years; Reed expects it could be finished by this time next year.

The trail doesn't have its own website or Facebook page, but more information can be found about it on sites like ozarksociety.net, buffaloriverfoundation.org and the Facebook page "Ozark Society, Highlands Chapter."

We get bored just sitting on our fannies, so please send tips about active recreation opportunities to

[email protected]

ActiveStyle on 08/20/2018

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