Houston County NAACP 5K run/walk needs more runners
The National Association for Advancement of Colored People
Houston County annual 5k race/walk will take place on Labor Day (Sept. 3) but
the run-up to the event started this week with the branch meeting to discuss
the race and events surrounding the race. The 5k race/walk donates 10 percent
of the proceeds from entrants that pay anywhere from $15-$30 (entrants ages and
12 and under are free) to ALS and dementia research with the rest of the
proceeds going towards work the organization does in and around the county.
There are dozens of difficulties that need to be discussed
when a race is planned and one of those is where the run will take place and
how to keep the route safe for the runners and walkers. Houston County NAACP
President Rev. Rutha Jackson counts the lack of a clearly defined race route in
the past as a problem. “Some participants have gotten lost,” said Jackson.
“This year we will clearly have [the race route] labeled and I will walk it myslef.”
Jackson and fellow NAACP board members plan to get route and safety suggestions
from local law enforcement. “We do need help with that.”
One of the biggest issues may be lack of growing attendance
as the race participant’s numbers have dwindled over the past few years. “Each
year we have we have been decreasing,” adds Jackson. The 2015 race had over 100
participants in comparison to the 87 runners in 2016 and 52 participants last
year.
Jackson lists a lack of “dedicated
workers” assisting in the race functions as a reason the numbers were down from
2016 to 2017. “The route was poorly labeled,” she said. “Advertising and
marketing was not good either, our collaboration was not good,” added Jackson
who said the team behind the event is “in better shape than we have been in a
long time.”
The Houston County NAACP is expecting to have more runners
take part this year compared to last year but there are no guarantees that will
happen.
Editor’s Note: An extended version of this
story is available will be available in Wednesday’s Journal sports section,
page 9.
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