Center adding kid-friendly fun run

CLOVIS — In its sixth year, a local race is giving children a chance to run at their own pace.

The Pregnancy Resource Center’s Leap for Life Fun Run, taking place at 9 a.m. Saturday at Ned Houk Park, has added to its roster of events a 1K race, which PRC Executive Director Carla Miller said was included by popular demand.

“We kept hearing that some of the younger kids wanted to run, but the 5K was too far for them, so we added the 1K to try to make it a little more friendly for the younger kids,” she said, adding that registration for the 1K is $20 for adults and $10 for children.

In addition to the new race, she said, the 5K (which will cost adults $25 and children $15) will allow participants to run with strollers.

The $35 10K race will take place on a mixture of rough and paved terrain, she added.

Race coordinators will be distributing prizes, both throughout the day and at the end of the race, according to Miller.

“The day of the race, we do a bunch of different prizes and giveaways. People don’t actually have to win their race category to win a prize. We just do raffles throughout the whole event as well,” she said. “We have some fun categories, like ‘craziest dressed.’ We’ve got people who dress up in green. Some wear tutus, some wear suspenders, fake beards, kind of like a St. Patrick’s Day theme,” she said.

A number of local entities will be providing various free services to runners, according to Miller, including music by Mix 107.5, runner bags by Dairy MAX, and a free pre-run warm-up and post-run cool down by 575 Yoga.

The event was well received in 2016, Miller said, adding that around 170 people participated.

“I think it’s one of the biggest events in the area. It seems to be a really fun event for the entire family, so that’s been cool to see, and we’re able to raise awareness about what we do and just so people know where we’re at if they need us,” she said.

Proceeds from the run go into PRC’s operating budget, which funds free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and mentor programs.

Individuals can register for the Leap for Life Fun Run at the Pregnancy Resource Center at 621 North Main Street in Clovis, online at active.com or on the day of the event.

Race day registration will take place from 7:45 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Early check-in can be completed 12-6 p.m. Friday at the PRC.