Health and Fitness : Five months down, seven More To Go: Vinton Chiropractic 5K update

The Vinton Chiropractic Team at the finish line in Marion.

The 'random stranger' in the middle cheered on Ashley Hesson and Malea Lee at a recent 5K.

The team prepares for a chilly race start in North Liberty.

It’s been 5 months since we at Vinton Chiropractic made our New Year’s Resolution to run 12 5K’s in 2013 – and we’re still going strong! It started as a way to challenge ourselves and it’s blossomed into getting people hooked on running that never thought they could be runners!

The Vinton Chiropractic & Wellness Center staff has participated in races all around the area in the past five months. The weather has generally been good (though chilly at times), considering what winter in Iowa could be! No races have involved snow of any kind…yet! So far, we’ve participated in the following races:

January 26: The Amana Freezer Run (Amana Colonies)

February 16: The Red Flannel Run (Des Moines)

March 23: We Run 5K (North Liberty)

April 16: Joggin’ For Your Noggin’ (Iowa City)

May 18: Marion Arts Festival 5K (Marion)

To date, 11 people have braved the weather to take on 3.1 miles at various races. And the summer months promise to hold potential for even more people to join in the fun.

“I started running races last summer with my husband & we became instantly addicted! So when my co-worker, Ashley came to me with her 12 5K’s in 2013 idea, I was really excited. It’s been so much fun to run alongside my boss, co-workers & new recruits, encouraging one another along the way and pushing each other as a group. Running brings me a lot of joy, so seeing people make the transition from being non-runners to finishing their first race has been absolutely priceless!” says Malea Lee, a Vinton Chiropractic Center employee.

A handful of people have completed their first 5K ever as a result of this challenge. And some are even coming back for more in the future months! Whether you’re walking or running, crossing the finish line gives you a feeling that’s hard to beat!

Beyond personal benefits, the races have benefitted various organizations like church youth groups, the YMCA and the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa (thus the “Joggin’ for Your Noggin’” race).

There are big plans for the summer months – including some local races in Vinton and some within a 15 mile radius. There’s even potential to do two 5K’s in one day in August (a morning and a night race), if one would be inclined to do so. Here are the races we plan to attend in the coming months:

June 28: Party in Pink (Vinton)

July 4: Firecracker 5K (Dysart)

August 24: Bring the Noise Boomfest 5K (Vinton) & Central Lutheran School 5K (Newhall)

September 21: Flaughless 5K (Vinton) We’ll post the last few races of the year as they get closer. Check out our website www.christychiro.com under the Wellness Center tab to see a complete race list and more details about joining us!

Interested in participating but not sure where to start? Join the crowd! We’re here to help! We have training programs (for runners and walkers) to get you from the couch to going 3.1 miles under your own power. Everyone has to start somewhere, so do it with us! Give us a call or stop by our office to get an information packet.

As always, anyone who joins The Vinton Chiropractic Center staff at a race will get a free bag of goodies including, but not limited to a VCC shirt (cotton or dry-fit), a water bottle, and discounted hydromassages! What more motivation does a person need?! Because if you don’t do it to be healthy, at least do it for the stuff we all get (aka: S.W.A.G.)!!