The third annual run will be at Northeast Lakeview College.
By Melissa Luna
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Some 261 participants lined up at the starting line March 28 for the second annual Alamo Colleges Wellness 5K Run/Walk at Palo Alto College.
Money raised from the run goes to the Alamo Colleges Wellness Foundation.
The foundation offers wellness opportunities for Alamo Colleges’ employees, such as running or walking events and job-related certifications and training, according to the district’s website.
Participants were able to register on-site and those already registered formed lines to pickup their timing chips and numbered bibs.
The weather was clear and sunny with the temperature at 55 degrees Fahrenheit as runners and walkers waited for the run to begin at 8 a.m.
The timing chips were provided by Purnell Racing, a local race management company.
This is the first year Purnell Racing has been in involved with this 5K run.
Race director Johnny Purnell is hoping for a long lasting relationship with Alamo Colleges and was “very happy with the turn out and love(d) the energy from the participants.”
Local companies Walking Spree and Rio Fit were on site to promote the importance of living an active, healthy life.
Rio Fit, www.riofitsa.com, is provides fitness classes and personal training sessions.
Founders Giselle Calvillo and Spurs Jesus, who participated in the run, handed out fliers good for one free group fitness class and provided a free yoga and circuit training session after the run.
Spurs Jesus is a local personality who dresses in red and white sheets, sunglasses, brown flip-flops and twine wrapped around his forehead.
He has been spotted at local events such as the Rock’n’Roll Marathon Series and San Antonio Spurs games.
“We want to break the mold on the traditional big box gym by utilizing our city’s surroundings as a workout center,” Spurs Jesus said.
Walkingspree, www.walkingspree.com, helps companies control health care costs by getting their employees moving through a wellness program that emphasizes the health benefits of walking.
Client Manager Irma Sandoval and distribution manager Charlie Boyd IV, who also participated in the run, handed out fliers of some health benefits associated with walking on a daily basis.
Walkingspree offers a fitness tracking program for employees of the Alamo Colleges and has extended their program to students.
Students can get a discount by using the code ALAMOFRIENDS at the group’s website.
For more information, call Sandoval at 210-767-3070 or Boyd at 210-338-8244.
Allison Garcia, kinesiology senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, was among the course marshals, who provided water and moral support.
“All the course marshals are kinesiology majors at A&M,” Garcia said. “We work closely with Palo Alto, and this was just another way to get involved with them.”
Other race volunteers included members of this college’s Kinesiology Club and members of the District Wellness Committee.
Bottled water, bananas and a disc jockey were at the finish line.
District Wellness Coordinator Chris Dillion, who is a kinesiology adjunct at this college, concluded the morning’s festivities by announcing the top three male and female finishers.
The top three male finishers were Sergio Luera, 19, who finished in 18:46; Norby Salazar, 21, finished in 19:29; and Missael Berlanga, 19, finished in 19:49.
The top three female finishers were Karla Cortez, 19, who finished in 22:22; Rhea Migdalski, 19, finished 21:23; and Justine Quintanilla, 19, finished in 22:26.
All six participants received a free personal training session at Rio Fit.
In 2014, there were 200 registrations.
Dillion is hoping for another increase in 2016. The event will be at Northeast Lakeview College, but no date has been set.
“We gained about 61 participants. I’m happy with that,” Dillion said. “We’ll get there, little by little.”