A competition coming to Fayetteville Technical Community College’s campus later this summer is more than just a chance for racers to improve their fitness times.
“The Trojan Fit 5K” is also a scholarship fundraiser for students majoring in health & fitness science or taking classes within the program. The Health & Fitness Science Department will host the race, a first for its staff and instructors. Larzaris Butler, department chair for health & physical education, said he hopes the event will raise enough money to establish an endowment – a minimum of $15,000, according to the FTCC Foundation’s webpage. The race is scheduled for Sept. 21.
“The plan is to help students across departments,” he said. “We have students who take classes on campus and online.”
The 5K is open to the public and all ages. The race is also a color run. At each kilometer, brightly colored powder will cover runners and walkers as they move along the course. FTCC faculty, staff, students and teachers, first responders and military service members can receive a 10 percent discount when they register. Children 11 years old and up must be registered as participants. Registration is $35.
The race will begin behind the Tony Rand Student Center along FTCC Access Road. The course covers much of the Fayetteville campus, taking runners along Hull Road, behind the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center, past the Continuing Education Building and behind Honeycutt Park before ending near the starting location.
The official race map for the Trojan Fit 5K slated for September 21 this year.
The 5K also serves as a community event for racers, walkers and those supporting participants. After the race, attendees can visit local business and food vendors, booths about FTCC’s programs, departments and student organizations. Racers can win in a variety of categories such as best costume, best stroller decorations, greatest amount of color on themselves to youngest and eldest participant.
“Hopefully, this will put [FTCC] out more in the community,” Butler said. “We’ll also have games for the kids, a carnival atmosphere. This is not just for the runners but those supporting the runners.”
For questions or more details about the race, contact Health & Fitness Instructor Joseph David at davisjo@faytechcc.edu or Health & Physical Education Department Chair Larzaris Butler at butlerl@faytechcc.edu.
For more details about the race, start times, parking, activities, see below:
The Trojan Fit 5K
When: Saturday, September 21
Where: Fayetteville campus, FTCC
Race Times: 9:30 am (runners), 9:33 (walkers) and 9:36 (for participants with strollers, wagons, etc).
-Same day registration and race packet pick up until September 20 from 9 am to 5 pm in the Horace Sisk Gymnasium
-Parking is not allowed inside the campus during the race. Refer to race map for parking options.
-Race will happen rain or shine
-Participants are required to show appropriate ID when picking up their packets to verify any discounts. No ID could result in paying the remaining registration balance or being dropped from the race.
