The Kinston 8000 set for Mar. 27 with 8K and 1 Mile Fun Run Mar. 8, 2010

Need to warm up for Run for the River???

So, you’re thinking about signing up for Pride of Kinston’s March 27 Run for the River…???

Not sure…??

I know. It’s been a lousy winter: snow, sleet, rain, overcast skies, cold, cold, cold….Spent a lot of time in front of the tube watching the Olympics, TV re-runs, the Leno-O’Brian jostle with NBC, reading the paper?

If you are like a lot of folks, running anywhere – with a little extra winter weight -- has been far, far from the mind.

But sign-up time is close at hand.

Pride feels your angst. To help clear out the winter cobwebs, Pride has arranged a couple of warm up days—March 13 and March 20 -- to help you get ready for a championship run.

The running track at Kinston High School, which surrounds the school’s football field, is being made available for practice runs at 10 AM each of the two Saturdays. The campus is located at 2601 North Queen Street.

Coffee, juice, donuts, bagels, fruit will be available to get your motors running.

Parks and Recreation will be there with digital timers to test your speed. It’ll take 20 laps around the course to be equivalent to the 8K race. Four laps will be the same as the 1 Mile Fun Run.

We’re planning on making the mornings a lot of fun as well as an opportunity to get ready for the real thing.

Pride’s 5th annual Run for the River takes off Saturday, March 27, 2010 with registration at the Neuseway Nature Center. The 1 Mile Fun Run, which is run within the park, kicks off at 8:30 am.

The 8K race kicks off at 9:00 am at the Rotary Dog Park, adjacent to Skinner By Pass (Hwys. 70 and 11/55). The 8K course takes runners through downtown Kinston, Mitchelltown and ends along the banks of the Neuse River at the Farmers Market on Herritage Street.

Fast runners take home cash, medals, engraved Lenox bowls and the satisfaction of having made it through one of Eastern North Carolina’s favorite races.

So, go ahead and take the plunge. Sign up for the race by going to www.downtownkinston.com and coming out to Kinston High School on Mar. 13 and Mar. 20 to warm up for the big run.

See you there!

Adrian King
Pride of Kinston