All Entries Tagged With: "Live Well Ferguson"
Rain clouds couldn’t stop Ferguson’s Twilight 5K
Gray skies threatened to put a damper on Live Well Ferguson’s inaugural Twilight 5K yesterday, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people from showing up. In fact, nearly 900 racers from all over St. Louis competed in the 5K and one-mile fun run! And fortunately, the rain held off just long enough to make the event a huge success!
I’ll be posting more than 400 event photos and several video clips ASAP. In the mean time, here’s a glimpse at the day’s festivities. (Photo credits: Keith Howard) You can also view the 5K results here.
Thousands will flock to Ferguson on May 15
Artist Anna Buechter, who made this "sign," is one of 150+ Ferguson residents participating in the eighth annual citywide yard sale on May 15.
In some ways, it was a happy accident, but there’s no denying it now… On Saturday, May 15, Ferguson will host no less than four community events, each expected to draw a lot of people.
The day kicks off at 7:30am, when the city’s eighth annual Biggest Yard Sale in History gets underway. More than 150 households are participating this year, including many in Old Town Ferguson. And at least one of the sellers, my talented neighbor Anna Buechter, is opening her yard to multiple artists, who will all be selling their wares.
If you want a map of the yard sales, head down down to the Ferguson Farmers Market, which opens at 8am. My friend Blue Tapp Scheffer will be providing the music that morning. You’ll also be able to enjoy Wellness Day hosted by Live Well Ferguson…then be sure to rest up.
That’s because at 4pm the city is holding its official grand opening ceremony at the Plaza at 501, the new outdoor concert venue built using many “green” features. Then at 5pm, it’s time for the day’s main event: the Live Well Ferguson Twilight 5K and one-mile fun run.
As of today, I’m proud to announce that more than 600 racers have signed up, and more are expected! If you want to join us, there’s still time. You can register at the farmers market between 8am and noon, or at the Streetcar Lofts, 425 S. Florissant, beginning at 4pm, where you can also drop off your cooler and lawn chairs for safe keeping until the post-race festivities.
Launching from the Plaza at 501, the fun run starts at 5pm and the 5K starts at 6pm. “Warm up” music will be provided by Taraji Healing Drums by L.A.C.T., then the always rockin’ Steve Ewing will play nearly all evening beginning at 6:30pm. As if that’s not fun enough, Hill Brewing will also be offering beer samples, and fresh food will be available too!
So make your way to Ferguson on May 15! If you’re lucky, you might even snag a Twilight 5K t-shirt, designed by guess who…me! See you there!
Training for Ferguson’s Twilight 5K begins soon
Would you like to run or walk in Live Well Ferguson's Twilight 5K on May 15? Free training for people of all fitness levels starts in March!
One of the best things about North County is the abundance of hiking and biking trails, but of course, you have to be at least somewhat fit to use them. Not being in peak shape myself, I often feel like I’m missing out on so many great adventures right in my own backyard. That’s why I’m very proud to be co-sponsoring an event that has one simple mission: to get the people of NoCo up and moving!
On May 15, Live Well Ferguson is hosting its inaugural Twilight 5K, and not only is NOCO a sponsor but yours truly has volunteered to be a racer in training! Starting this week, Dwayne James, Blue Tapp Scheffer and I (all of whom are at different fitness levels) will be blogging about our progress as we prepare for the race.
Blue, who runs a local website company, is an avid runner and cyclist who is also training for the Go! St. Louis marathon. She’s our “advanced” trainee. Dwayne, a Ferguson city councilman, is our fit but rusty “intermediate” trainee who has run 5Ks before and is looking to improve on his personal best. And me, I’m the “beginner” – an out-of-shape writer preparing to walk the 5K and hopefully lose a few pounds in the process.
Between now and May 15, I’ll be working with personal trainer Lyle Johnson, whose company MVP Fitness runs boot camps right here in North County. My goal in doing this is obviously to improve my own health, but I also hope to inspire other couch potatoes to rise to the challenge and walk with me in the Twilight 5K.
If you’re interested in training, we have two free programs available, both starting in March:
Couch to 5K – As the name implies, this is a proven program to get beginning runners or individuals wishing to improve their fitness level off the couch and onto the streets. The program is progressive, as we will start off slowly and graduate weekly, building both confidence and physical stamina.
This is a non-competitive program as our goal is to finish the race, regardless of time. We will meet Mon./Wed./Fri. evenings at 6:00 P.M. for this nine-week program starting March 15, 2010. Each session should last no more than 45 minutes, including warm up and cool down. If you can currently run or jog 10 minutes nonstop, this program is not for you. Please contact Pat Shelton for more information.
Saturday Intermediate Training – The Saturday 5K Training Program will be led by Blue and her husband, Craig, who are both currently training for the GO! St. Louis Half Marathon this April. This nine-week program, starting March 20, 2010 at 9am, is intended for beginning to intermediate level runners but is open to all interested participants.
We will meet in various Ferguson locations, depending upon the day’s activity. Each session should last no more than 45 minutes. Activities will include short runs up to 3 miles through Ferguson neighborhoods, hill training at January Wabash Park and Jeske Park, and interval drills at the Florissant Valley Community College track. For more info, contact Blue Tapp Scheffer.
Come on, North County! If I can do this, so can you! Let’s get fit and have fun together!
Join NOCO for films, discussion forums & a 5K
Come to the Jamestown Bluffs library next Wednesday for one of three upcoming events co-sponsored by NOCO.
Join me and other North County residents for a lively discussion on current events and local news, the second Wednesday of every month at the Jamestown Bluffs library. “Neighborhood Newshounds” is a new adult program created by the library staff, and all are invited to participate in this free, informal gathering, which kicks off next Wednesday, January 13, from 2-3pm.
Pre-registration is preferred but not absolutely necessary. Ages 18 and older, please. To sign up or for more information, visit St. Louis County Library’s event calendar. Jamestown Bluffs is located at 4153 N. Lindbergh, 63031.
In the coming months, NOCO is also helping to sponsor two other fun events: the Live Well Ferguson Twilight 5K and a film series hosted by EarthDance Farms. I can’t share many details about the film series yet, except to say that it will feature thought-provoking movies on the subjects of food and farming, but I can tell you more about the 5K.
Hosted by Live Well Ferguson, an organization whose mission is to encourage local residents to lead healthier, more active lives, the event is an extension of Ferguson’s popular Sunday Parkways program and is being spearheaded by Ferguson city councilman Dwayne James. Scheduled for May 15, 2010, it promises to be a full evening of exciting activities, and everyone – regardless of their fitness level – is encouraged to come on down.
At 5pm, there will be a one-mile fun run/walk, open to families, kids, stroller joggers and even dogs. Then at 6pm, both runners and walkers are challenged to participate in the inaugural Twilight 5K, which features professional timing by Big River Running and a USATF-certified course through Ferguson’s beautiful historic neighborhoods. We’ll have a photographer stationed at the finish line so your moment of sweaty glory can be preserved forever. But fear not – there’s also free beer!
Following the 5K, everyone (even those who don’t race) can enjoy a live concert at the newly built “Plaza at 501″ on S. Florissant Road, as well as beer tastings courtesy of Ray Hill’s. All race participants will also get a prize and a snazzy t-shirt (designed by moi), while first-place 5K finishers will win a pair of new running shoes and a trophy.
Sponsors are still needed for this great community event, which will hopefully showcase Ferguson’s unique beauty and reinforce the awesome mission of Live Well Ferguson. And of course, we need racers! Lots of them.
If I can drag my out-of-shape writer’s bum 3.2 miles, so can you! So please, check out the Twilight 5K website and sign up today! Early registration is just $5-15, depending on your age and which race you participate in. There’s even a discount for families.
Are you getting ready for the big day? NOCO is a proud sponsor of the 3rd annual Live Well Ferguson 5K