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A
Celebration of Women & Girls in Fitness & Sport - The
Spirit of the Celebration!
The 5K Run, Walk & Stroll, which happens each September
in Boise Idaho, is one of the largest women's run/walks
in the USA. The Celebration was founded to inspire healthy
attitudes in participants so that it reaches their families
and communities. Every September thousands of women
and girls line up in downtown Boise to experience Celebration
camaraderie in a very supportive environment. Grandmothers or girl scouts, elite runners
or stroller moms, they all compete on the same course,
on the same day.
With big dreams and a vision to make this event a day
for women and girls of all ages and abilities to participate
together in a supportive environment, the St. Luke’s
Women’s Fitness Celebration, formally known as
the Idaho Womens Fitness Celebration was founded with
a mission to inspire healthy attitudes in the participants
so that it reached their families and communities. This
is the participants' day to take part in what has become
a very unique Idaho event.
Now in its eighteenth year, the Celebration has inspired
thousands of participants to continue to exercise throughout
the year. On Saturday, September 25th, 2010, the inspiration
will continue when women and girls from throughout Idaho
and the U.S. line up at the Start Line in downtown Boise
to celebrate for their own reasons.
Participants make their way along the course from the
Idaho State Capitol to the beautiful surroundings of
Ann Morrison Park located on the banks of the Boise
River. Here the participants, volunteers and their families
are treated to food and entertainment at the Finish
Line Party.
At
the heart and soul of the 5K Run, Walk & Stroll
are the women and girls who enjoy fitness and camaraderie
in this very supportive environment. The event is for
walkers, runners or strollers. There is no time limit
to complete the course, and every year the "over 70
year old" age group impresses and inspires thousands.
These incredible ladies are recognized on stage during
the Awards Ceremony with a rose and medal. We truly
honor them.
As quoted by an over 70 year old participant, Maxine, "I am so proud of the medal. Thank you very much for
giving it to me. It's the first medal I have ever received."
In addition to those that participate for fun and companionship,
the event also attracts an elite field of competitive
runners, race-walkers and wheelchair athletes from Idaho
and around the country. This impressive field of elite
athletes includes wheelchair athlete Candace Cable who
has 6 Boston Marathon wheelchair championships and Louise
Sauvage who is the two time International Female Wheelchair
Athlete of the Year. The list of past run winners includes
Amy Yoder-Begley, Elva Dryer, Boise native Cori Mooney, and Libbie
Hickman. see
Elite Athletes for past winners.
These women bring to the event an opportunity to see
and meet world class athletes, and see how they perform
and compete. For many of the elite athletes it is the
chance to help deliver a positive message of inspiration
for health and well-being to participants, their families
and communities.
These athletes provide the inspiration to teams like
the Silver Sage Girl Scouts Team that has consistently
been over six hundred girls strong. These girls complete
the 3.1mile course, cross the finish line, celebrate
their achievement and then become Celebration volunteers.
Each year girl-scout troops assist with the clean up
of the Finish Line Party and in doing so have helped
the Celebration earn the compliments of Ginger Jewell
of Park & Recreation Department for being the cleanest
event in Boise.
In closing, take the sneakers out of the closet, call
your friends, co-workers, your mother, sister, aunt
and cousins, watch for your entry form and make sure
you are included in the
2010 St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration.
This is your event!
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