GREENFIELD — Laura Baker considered her costume options for Saturday’s Superhero 5K. She had a pair of Wonder Woman leggings and a Wonder Woman T-shirt. Should she wear one or the other or both? In an event that brings out dozens of costumed runners, Baker, coordinator for the event, decided ultimately to tone it down a little in anticipation of the appearance of a fully-costumed Wonder Woman.
“I don’t want to steal her thunder,” Baker joked.
Sponsored by Healthy365, the Superhero 5K will see its fourth start from the Courthouse Plaza on Saturday morning. As the headliner for a morning focused on fitness, events will kick off around 9 a.m. with the national anthem sung by local performer Haley Jonay.
The Kids Dash — from the Courthouse Annex to the start of the Pennsy Trail and back (about three blocks) — starts at 9 a.m., followed by the Superhero 5K at about 9:15 a.m.
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In collaboration with Greenfield Main Street and Hancock4Kids, the event continues to grow with more than double previous years’ number of vendors. Three of Hancock County’s fitness center groups — Anytime Fitness, Greenfield Fitness and Hancock Wellness — will be on hand to tout their programs as well as offer hands-on fitness demonstrations that attendees can participate in.
Following the kids’ race and the 5K, the event will feature a morning’s worth of activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. At 10 a.m., the Mt. Vernon High School cheerleaders will perform. At 10:20 a.m., Hancock Wellness will offer a demonstration and participation session of kids’ Zumba. At 10:40, Greenfield Fitness will lead a demonstration followed an 11 a.m. group training session offered by Anytime Fitness. At 11:20 a.m., fitness guru Stacey Poe will lead a participation demo of Generation Pound for kids age 6 to 12, followed by a 20-minute Pound session for adults.
Poe, who spent six months in training to be a licensed instructor, describes Pound as a low impact full-body cardio jam session. What attracts participants to Pound are the “ripsticks” — the green-colored drumsticks used create the exercise regimen. The exercise involves beating the sticks together or on the ground for a multi-faceted workout involving cardio, flexibility and strength training.
“You get to be a rock star for an hour,” Poe said.
Funds raised from the Superhero 5K will be split between Hancock4Kids and Healthy365. Hancock4Kids, now in its fourth year, is Hancock County’s child abuse prevention coalition. Its mission is to foster a community where children flourish free from abuse and neglect, and to be a catalyst for preventing child abuse in all its forms through education and awareness activities. Healthy365, led by Amanda Everidge, is a Hancock Regional Hospital-sponsored initiative that works to improve the health status of Hancock County.
Registration is still available online at behealthy365.org/superhero5K or on the morning of the race. Adults can register for $25; children 6 to 17 years of age can participate for $15; children age 5 and under can run free in the 9 a.m. Kids Dash.
