Towson University will host Get Ready, Get Set, Get Fit, 5K run/1M walk on Sunday, Sept. 16.
TU, along with the Baltimore County Department of Aging and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will be sponsoring the race, which is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
"The run is a part of a collaboration with Baltimore County Department of Aging to promote fitness among older people," Charlotte Exner, dean of the college of health professions, said.
Towson students enrolled in the College of Health Professions have been working at senior fitness centers in the area, and this race is part of that collaboration.
"From my vantage point we've had a wonderful relationship with the Department of Aging," Exner said. "We have a lot of our students involved in Baltimore County fitness centers."
Wellness Center director Bill Forbes said planning for the event began over a year and a half ago.
"It took a lot of planning," Forbes said. "We hoped to do this last year but we didn't have time to put it together, so we put it off until this year."
Forbes said he hopes to have between 400 and 500 people participating in the event.
"We already have over 300 people signed up for the run and they're still coming in," he said.
There is a small particpation fee for runners and walkers. The cost for students and individuals over 60 is $10, everyone else must pay $15. Late registration for the event is $20 on the day of the race.
"We've raised over $25,000 just from corporate sponsors alone," Forbes said. "It's going to be a big event."
The race raises money to help support and expand the six existing senior fitness centers in the county. Forbes said there is going to be a seventh center by the end of the month and an eighth by the end of the year.
There is a big encouragement to develop teams of runners in the race and there will be random prizes given out to teams as well as individual runners. Teams can have as few as four runners and can even exceed 50.
"Various senior fitness centers have been getting teams together," Forbes said. "There are some teams with over 40 people on them."
Forbes said this will be an annual race and planning for next year's run will begin shortly after this race is over.
Exner said the race fits well with Towson President Robert Caret's plan of partnership and it enhances Towson's connections to the community.
"I think it contributes to our role in supporting other entities in Baltimore County, and it makes people aware that even older adults can be quite fit," Exner said.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. Water will be available on the course and on-site medical care will also be provided.
Registration forms are available at Baltimore County senior fitness centers or at county libraries. Runners may also register online at the Baltimore County Department of Aging Web site. For more information, call 410-308-1870.
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