In the summer of 2007, I was a graduate student at Mississippi College when my elderly professor mentioned he was going to run a 5K in a few weeks.

Well, I didn’t even know what a 5K was. I was looking for something fun that might help me shed some pounds, and I thought, “If my professor can do it, surely I can!” After finding out 5 kilometers roughly equaled 3.1 miles, I started walking to see if I could do it, and I wasn’t the fastest, but I just kept moving.

On the day of the race, there were certainly plenty of people in front of me, but my fears of coming in last were completely gone when I saw people just like me (a non-runner) just enjoying being outside and moving, doing something good for myself.

Seven years later, running has become my obsession. I love toeing the line, improving my previous times, meeting new people and calling myself a runner.

Are you looking for a great reason to get moving too? Do you need some motivation to get off the couch?

The recent winter with its snow days and icy sidewalks plus the cooler-than-usual spring has kept a lot of us indoors. I’ve had plenty of excuses to stay inside where it’s toasty and warm.

Well, hopefully, warmer temperatures and sunnier days are in our immediate future, and I don’t know about you, but I want to celebrate the end of the cold.

At 7:30 a.m. April 5, the Alpha Alpha Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Copiah-Lincoln Community College will host its first Nerdy Wolf 5K in downtown Natchez.

It’s a great way stretch your legs, have some fun with friends (four-legged ones, too) and burn some calories!

Phi Theta Kappa is Co-Lin’s Honor Society. To become a member of PTK, a student must have completed 12 semester hours and maintain a 3.5 GPA. Most of these students complete these requirements while also balancing a job and family responsibilities.

The Nerdy Wolf event will raise money for these hard-working, high-achieving students to better themselves through participating in a variety of personal and professional development initiatives, activities of the chapter and regional and international events. Their activities benefit our community, as well. In keeping with the spirit of community service promoted by PTK, a portion of all money raised by the Nerdy Wolf will be donated to support the Veteran’s Scholarship Fund at Co-Lin.

In addition, veterans that are participating by walking or running will be recognized at the beginning of the race as well as by name during the awards ceremony following the race.

You can register two ways: fill out a registration form available at facebook.com/nerdywolf5k and mail it in, or online registration is open at active.com/natchez-ms/running/races/nerdy-wolf-5k-2014.

What will you get for your registration fee ($20 until March 28th, $25 after March 28th until race day) is a Nerdy Wolf 5K T-shirt, music and refreshments, and the chance to win a medal for first place in your age division (under 10, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, Masters, Grand Masters, or Senior Masters).

Don’t think you’ll win a medal? Try wearing your best “nerd outfit” for a chance to win the costume contest.

Not a runner? Don’t worry! There’s a separate walking division. The only rules are:  runners can walk, but walkers can’t run!

Have a young one that would like to join in? Immediately following the 5K, there will be a free one-mile fun run for children 10 and under.

All children participating will receive a medal.

Four-legged friends on a leash are welcome as well as strollers. Who knows? This could be the beginning of a new obsession. We would love to have you join us and would appreciate your support of two very important causes.

For more information, please call 601-446-1233 or email amanda.hood@colin.edu.

 

Amanda Hood is a math instructor at Copiah-Lincoln Community College-Natchez Campus.