Colorado State Celebrates Silver Anniversary of Annual Community Homecoming Race October 8

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Colorado State University’s annual Community Homecoming 5K Race. This year’s event will begin at 7:45 a.m. Oct. 8 at the Colorado State Oval. A free Kids Fun Run will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Oval immediately after the 5K race.

In honor of Sheri Linnell, who founded the race and has made ongoing contributions to its success, the Department of Health and Exercise Science and the Adult Fitness Program have established the Sheri Linnell Scholarship. Over the past 25 years, the number of race participants has grown from 100 to more than 1,200. Organizers hope to have a record turnout for the anniversary milestone. Both runners and walkers of all ages are welcome to participate in the race. The course is flat and goes through the Colorado State campus.

"The Community Homecoming 5K Race is an event for the whole family," said Gay Israel, head of the Department of Health and Exercise Science. "This year is particularly special since the silver anniversary of the race provides an opportunity to honor Sheri Linnell, who founded the race. It also is the silver anniversary of the Attack Pack, an organization founded by Dr. Gary Luckasen, a local cardiologist, to encourage heart patients to exercise. Many members of the Attack Pack will celebrate by participating in the race."

A free Kids Fun Run will feature a 0.3 mile course for children seven and under and a 0.6 mile course for children eight to 12. The race is part of the Healthy Kids Run Series sponsored by Poudre Valley Health Systems. Cam the Ram will start the race, and all finishers will receive ribbons.

Registration for the race is $19 before 5 p.m. Sept. 30, $23 before 5 p.m. Oct. 7 and $27 on race day. Race entry includes a custom designed, long-sleeved T-shirt. First, second and third place finishers in each division will receive a hand-crafted piece of pottery by a local artist. Drawings for multiple prizes during the awards ceremony also will take place.

     To pre-register for the race, contact Colorado State’s Department of Health and Exercise Science at (970) 491-5081, register online at http://hes.cahs.colostate.edu/Homecoming/ or in person at Foot of the Rockies or Runners Roost. Race-day registration will start at 6:30 a.m. the morning of the race and closes promptly at 7:30 a.m. The race begins at 7:45 a.m.

Proceeds from the race will support the Heart Disease Prevention Program of the Human Performance Clinical/Research Lab. This program provides an opportunity for individuals to be screened for all the risk factors for heart disease. This screening includes personal and family history, a maximal treadmill test, an examination by a physician, blood lipid analysis, body composition assessment and much more. More than $35,000 was raised from the race in 2004 for the Heart Disease Prevention Program.

     Gold Level race sponsors include Poudre Valley Health System, RE/MAX First Associates Inc., Heart Center of the Rockies, Triple Crown Sports and Colorado State University Youth Sport Camps. Silver Level sponsors include The Gym of the Rockies, Miramont Sport Center and First National Bank. Bronze Level sponsors include A Step Ahead Foot & Ankle Center, Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies, Gay and Karan Israel, 1st Reverse Mortgage USA, Ren and Sharon Jensen, Markley Motors, Norlarco Credit Union, Meurer & Associates, Longevity Center of the Rockies P.C., PLS Homes, Colorado State University Bookstore, Smith Investments and DELL.

     Parking will be available at the Colorado State Lory Student Center parking lot. The Oval will be closed to traffic from all directions on the morning of the race. For safety reasons, race organizers request that dogs not accompany anyone running or watching the race.

For more information about the race, call 491-5081 or e-mail hesinfo@cahs.colostate.edu.

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