OPPORTUNITIES

5K draws: Festival, flat path, shady trails

For an accurately measured 3.1 mile route near the Arkansas River and Cook's Landing -- one that doesn't involve the ramps of the Big Dam Bridge -- runners can check out Saturday's I Know a Fighter 5K.

The Children's Tumor Foundation's new footrace begins at 8 a.m. near Garver, 4701 Northshore Drive in North Little Rock. The race is one of 10 being held around the nation to fund research into treatments for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder in which tumors grow on nerves. The foundation estimates the disorder affects one in 3,000 people worldwide.

The race will begin and end on Northshore Drive between Helping Hands Children's Center and Garver. Measured in March and certified by USA Track & Field, the route is mostly flat and largely under the leafy shade of paved trails near the river.

Its map is online at usatf.org; search for "AR18005WJT."

Runners and walkers are welcome, and everyone will find a festival at the finish line. Overall male and female finishers will win medals as will the top three finishers in five-year age groups from 14 and younger to 70 and over.

Online registration costs $40 ($20 for ages 12 and younger) with no handling fee; online registration closes at midnight Thursday. Dave & Busters, 10900 Bass Pro Parkway in Little Rock, will host packet pickup from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday. And race-day registration ($45 and $25) will open at 7 p.m. at Garver.

The website ctf.org has the registration link. Under "Events" go to "Find an event" and search for Arkansas. The site includes national contacts; but for questions about Saturday's race, the contact is Allyson Douglass at (501) 351-0382 or [email protected].

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ActiveStyle on 05/21/2018

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