Run Chattanooga, the locally-based running/walking/fitness club that charges no membership fees is planning a free flashmob-style 5K run/walk for June 4. Perfect Pairs encourages people of all fitness abilities to team up with a friend, dress alike or in complementary costumes, and be part of a large “mob” of runners and walkers.
“We put on free flashmob runs to take the intimidation factor out of running,” said Courtney Bird, founder and executive director of Run Chattanooga.
“It’s not a race, so there’s no worries about being left behind or finishing in a certain time. And when everyone is dressed up in a silly outfit, high fiving unsuspecting people along the way, you can’t help but have fun.”
The event will be held on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. A 5K (3.1 mile) and 1 mile course will be mapped out for runners, but a map will not be released prior to the event. Run Chattanooga also does not disclose the location of the start/finish until the week of the event, to preserve the surprise flashmob feel. People who’d like to participate can get updates by following the event page linked to Run Chattanooga’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/runnooga.
The rules at all of Run Chattanooga events are simple: you cannot leave without meeting someone new, and you have to high five at least one other person. Run Chattanooga encourages building community in everything they do, and hopes that ‘forcing interaction’ with events like these, along with their free group runs and workouts six days a week, help to connect people not just as runners or fitness enthusiasts, but as friends and as a community.
“Run Chattanooga is such a welcoming and supportive environment, with runners and walkers covering every fitness level, from super fast runners to people who don’t consider themselves athletic at all. It has made friends out of people who may never have crossed paths in their regular day-to-day activities. We don’t just support each other’s running goals,” says Ms. Bird. “On any given day, you can find a group of Run Chattanooga regulars laughing over dinner together, planning weekend trips, or helping each other out when someone is having a personal life struggle. It’s really neat how we’ve turned into a big family.”
Hixson running store Front Runner Athletics is joining in the fun by offering up free sneakers for runners to use during the event. Tester shoes from Saucony will be available for participants to try out; sizes and styles are available on a first come, first served basis. The shoes will not be available for purchase at the event, but people can be professionally fitted at Front Runner during regular business hours.
Perfect Pairs also serves as the kickoff for registration for Run Chattanooga’s second annual Raccoon Mountain Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay, which will be held in March 2016. This year, runners and walkers from 27 states competed in the sold-out event. Run Chattanooga
expects the race to sell out again next year, as they add some extra perks to make the event even more fun.
For more information on this and other events, workouts, and group runs, visit Run Chattanooga’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/runnooga or follow them on Twitter at
@runchattanooga..