Scenic New Albany will host a race that is better suited for the tortoises than the hares of Central Ohio. It’s a 10K walk that invites both competitive and recreational walkers to compete and win awards in a race designed for the average Joes who simply want to get active.
The 3rd annual New Albany 10K Walk commences 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16. The walk is the premiere event for the New Albany Walking Club founded by Dr. Phil Heit, a Professor Emeritus of Physical Activity and Educational Services at the Ohio State University who, after running marathons for 30 years, sustained enough knee damage to turn his passion for running into a campaign for walking.
“When I started the club, the next step naturally was to create the race because there were so many more people who walked instead of ran,” Heit says. “And there had never been a race before that was strictly for walkers.”
Sponsors were skeptical at first, Heit says, when the walk-only race made its debut Sept. 11, 2005, with 763 walkers. The following year brought more support, however, and 1,700 walkers. This year a cap of 3,000 has been placed on registration. Nearly 1,800 walkers are confirmed already for this year’s race.
The course begins in the Market Square and travels through a picturesque path in New Albany Country Club.
The USA Track and Field-certified 10K course takes anywhere from 55 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Following the race, sponsors will provide refreshments along with other sponsor giveaways.
The top five men and top five women to finish the race will receive awards, as well as the top three men and women in each of the following age groups: under 20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and above.
The race is a way to facilitate the goal of the New Albany Walking Club, which is to promote individual, community and family health through walking, and to simply promote walking in Central Ohio. It provides an opportunity for walkers to get active and compete in an event that may be less intimidating than racing among competitive runners.
“We will have some race walkers in our event but most people will be recreationally walking,” Heit says.
Past participants have ranged in age from 8 to 80 years old and have come from all over America and other countries to participate in this strictly walking race.
Proceeds from the walk go toward health-related initiatives in the Central Ohio area. The New Albany Walking Club will receive support to continue providing coaching and guidance to its walkers – promoting positive health and wellness behavior in the Central Ohio community. The Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation will also receive proceeds to purchase resources that focus on health and physical activity. The walk also supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A special donation Web page (found at www.active.com/donate/philheit) honors the memory of Nate Katz, a former member of the New Albany Walking Club who lost his life to leukemia.
The entrance fee is $30, but participants will receive more goodies for simply registering. Each participant will receive a windbreaker with the race’s logo that can turn into a fanny pack, as well as a sport technical shirt that keeps athletes cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather.
Heit says the support of New Albany has been tremendous when it comes to the 10K Walk. “It can be very tedious to put on a race, and we have the support in New Albany to facilitate us putting on this kind of event,” he says.
Questions about the New Albany 10K Walk can be answered by the Web site www.newalbany10kwalk.com or by e-mailing Phil@newalbanywalkingclub.com or by calling 614-477-WALK (9255).