Here's exciting news for Northwest Indiana: The Biggest Loser RunWalk Half Marathon/5K series will host a half marathon/5K for the first time in Indiana! Mark your calendars for May 3, 2015 as that is the race date and get ready Crown Point because the race is coming your way.
What is the Biggest Loser Race Series? It's races organized by Dan and Jackie Evans, former contestants of "The Biggest Loser". Launched in 2012, the series challenges Americans to get active and remain active. With a wide variety of races that cater to all ages and fitness levels -5K's, 10K's, half marathons, off-road challenges, and kids' races, people can reach their goals with this fun race series.
The announcement was made at the Indiana Welcome Center in mid-January. Speros Batistatos, President/CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority; Crown Point Mayor David Uran; Marci Crozier, a participant in Season 11 of "The Biggest Loser"; and Dan Evans, a participant in Season 5 of "The Biggest Loser" made the announcement and gave more details on what to expect from the event.
"To be able to work with [Marci and David] on this project seemed only natural," Batistatos said. "Our sports manager, Rick Flutka, brought this back with him from his trip to the National Association of Sports Commissions and it seemed like a perfect fit given Marci's work with 'The Biggest Loser' and our tie with Franciscan Alliance and the close corporate relationship with them. Couple that with David's passion for any and all things sports and we are going to have a winning product."
Mayor Uran agreed saying, "Over the last few years we have been transforming our community to be the place for amateur sports to come play and see our city. It will bring in tourism dollars, which the SSCVA is all about, and the partnership with Speros and his team has been fantastic. This event is a perfect fit for us... Everything we do in Crown Point is about family first and this is another event that is really going to bring that message home."
Mayor Uran went on to say that he plans to participate in the half marathon. Over a thousand people are expected to attend the race from seasoned runners who plan to take on the half marathon to new runners who will be making this their first 5k.
"'The Biggest Loser' event is exciting to me because right here and now I feel like the spokes on my Wellness Wheel are becoming stronger and tighter," Marci Crozier, Regional Director of Marketing and Sales for Franciscan Omni Health said. "I'm going to run that 5k, and [Speros] is going to do it with me."
The Biggest Loser RunWalk Half Marathon/5K series will be a huge boon to Crown Point, bringing people in to see the city and surrounding area. Restaurants and retail stores will get more foot traffic, hotels will be filled, and a great message of health and wellness will be spread and permanently attached to the city.
Evans finished off the press conference with a great acoustic performance of a song called "Where I Need to Go".
"We're excited to bring The Biggest Loser RunWalk right here to Northwest Indiana," Evans said. "We know it's going to be an incredible weekend so we want each and every one of you to get involved, be a part of the event, and spread the word... We're excited to be a part of it."
There are many ways to get involved in the race from being a participant to volunteering to sponsoring the event. Come be part of a momentous occasion!
For more information about the race visit http://www.BiggestLoserRunWalk.com
