Annual 5K run/walk to kick off Homecoming Saturday
The run/walk has been a tradition for decades at CMU
entral Michigan University has teamed up with Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) to help raise awareness for athletes with disabilities by organizing the Homecoming 5K run/walk on Saturday, Oct. 6.
The 5K is the opening activity on Homecoming Saturday and it has been for more than 30 years.
Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and the run kicks off at 7:30 a.m., followed by the walk at 7:35 a.m. The race begin at Finch Fieldhouse and takes on a course that differs from last year, across the beautiful campus of CMU.
The course takes runners in a loop towards northwest campus then back down Washington Street towards south campus. Runners hit Broomfield Street and follow that to East Campus Drive until they come to Bellows Street. Runners then finish the race back at Finch Fieldhouse.
The race is open to the public and proceeds benefit more than 27,000 athletes at SOMI by providing funds for the organization. Registration costs $25 and it can be filled out online at www.firstgiving.com/event/cmu5k/2018/register.
Awards are given to the top finishers in the following categories: male and female, male and female over the age of 40, current CMU student, alumni, the youngest runner and the most spirited CMU runner.
Mary Albaugh, a senior from Grand Rapids, is a Special Olympics Michigan Sports and Wellness intern as well as the president of the Special Olympics College, which is a registered student organization on campus.
Albaugh said this fundraiser gives students a chance to meet the athletes and realize how special SOMI truly is.
"They really prove that it doesn't matter who you are or if you have a disability," Albaugh said. "If you work hard and believe in yourself you can do anything you set your mind to."
The course map for the homecoming 5k run/walk 2018.
