Exercise, not Breaking The Record, was the goal
MKT trail event’s second year draws 167 people, running different distances
For some people 5:30 a.m. is time to call it a night and head home. But for the 167 participants in Tuesday’s Breaking the Record Run, 5:30 a.m. was the perfect time to go for a jog.
The event, sponsored by the Columbia Multisport Club, took place along the MKT trail, beginning at the Forum Boulevard trail entrance. In its second year, the run/walk is an annual event that is open to the public, and includes participants running distances ranging from five miles to 6.6 miles. Last year the event attracted 136 people.
Joe Bechtold, one of the organizers of the run/walk, said the goal of this event is to get people out of the house and exercising.
“We try to get as many people as we can,” participant Phil Schaefer said.
Along with sponsoring Tuesday’s run/walk, the CMC also runs the same course at 5:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday year-round. Schaefer said despite the fact he doesn’t consider himself a morning person, having a very supportive group around him makes it easier to get up in the mornings.
Carolyn Roof, who also participated in Tuesday’s event, echoed Schaefer’s sentiments. She admitted that sometimes it’s hard to get up but she’s afraid she’ll catch grief from her fellow CMC members if she doesn’t show up. She says she enjoys having a routine of working out early in the morning with friends and that it’s a great way to start the day.
Plenty of newcomers joined the CMC for the annual run. Among them were Glenn Good and Laurie Mintz.
“I like exercising, so I thought I’d give it a try,” Good said.
Mintz, who walked the trail, said that the scenery was beautiful and that it motivated her to wake up and join in the festivities.
Along with getting the chance to get out and exercise, some participants received plastic beads as a reward for either perfect attendance throughout the month or participating in their first event.
“The beads are just for fun, but people look forward to the beads,” Schaefer said. It gets people to come out.”