NATCHEZ — Amanda Hood hopes to leave Miss-Lou residents encouraged with the second annual Nerdy Wolf 5K run.

The Nerdy Wolf 5K — sponsored by Copiah Lincoln Community College in Natchez and organized by Hood — will take place at 7:30 a.m. Saturday by the Old Train Depot on Broadway Street in downtown Natchez.

Hood, who is a math instructor at Co-Lin, said the run will not only leave its participants uplifted, but it also will benefit Phi Theta Kappa, Co-Lin’s honor society and the Veteran’s Scholarship Fund at Co-Lin.

“Not only do we have a goal of being a fundraiser, but the goal is to change the health and lives of individuals,” she said.

Hood said taking part in the run will help residents set goals in everyday life.

“It’s good to have a goal, and since it’s a small race, it’s something that’s manageable,” Hood said. “It doesn’t have to be something that you can be overwhelmed with.”

Hood began taking part in 5K runs after her professor from Mississippi College said he was going to participate in a run in the summer of 2007.

“I said to myself that ‘I can do that,’ and once I did it, I fell in love with it,” Hood said.

The 5K run is also for those who wish to walk instead of run.

“You get the same heath benefits while running and walking,” she said. “It makes you feel good to set a goal and get it accomplished.”

Those who wish to walk their dogs during the race or stroll along with their babies can also participate.

A one-mile fun run for kids will be held following the 5K run.

Awards will go to the male and female overall winners and first place in each age group.

All one-mile fun run participants will receive a medal and participants who pre-register will receive a t-shirt.

Pre-registration is $20, race day registration is $25 and the one-mile fun run registration is $5.

Race day registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the Old Train Depot.

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

To register for the race, visit racesonline.com/events/nerdy-wold-5k.