Chips, salsa, guacamole, margaritas and a three mile run. On any other day one of those things doesn’t belong with the other, but on Wednesday at the Extra Mile Fitness Cinco De Mayo Fun Run, they all went perfectly together.
The Cinco De Mayo Fun Run is one of many “fun runs” that Extra Mile hosts throughout the year, but this event is a particularly special one that they host for their runners because it serves as the real big kick off to their busy summer running season.
“From now to the end of July we have a run once a week, and we try to have two extra special themed fun runs a month.” Explained Jen Smith Villarreal, who works at Extra Mile and even ran the three mile course. “With having these group runs once a week it really encourages people to come out and run without the pressure of a timed run, and especially with these themed runs it really fosters the sense of community that’s important to runners. It’s a no pressure environment that allows everyone to have a great time, and in this case it’s to relax with a great margarita afterwards.”
Check out all the photos from the Cinco De Mayo Fun Run here.
The run gathered a crowd of running enthusiasts, including Extra Mile fun run regulars and first timers. Tina Reeves, who has been to almost every fun run at Extra Mile for the past year, said that she and her family come out to these so often for the atmosphere and the ability to make their runs a little more enjoyable.
“When my husband Joe and I first started a year ago it really attracted us because we were first starting to pick up running and three miles is something that is easy to start with.” Reeves stated. “After the first time we realized that these runs were actually really great and we’ve been coming ever since. The owners are really nice, everyone’s great, and it even encourages our kids to love running because we bring them with in a stroller. It’s just a really great time.”
Though the Cinco De Mayo run was filled with regulars like the Reeves, there were also a few people who decided to make this run their first ever with the people of Extra Mile.
Chase Freeland, a Valparaiso University student, saw the sign for the run a week before on his regular nightly run and decided to see what the event was all about.
“It’s definitely been fun, and it lives up to its ‘fun run’ description.” Freeland stated. “I’m new to this so I’m meeting a whole bunch of new people and mingling a little bit to know everyone right now, but next time I’ll try to gather a few of my friends to come with me. It’s a fun atmosphere and I’m glad I came out.”
Even though the game-changing difference for the run was about the holiday, there was also the ability to try something a little different for the feet. Running shoe specialists from Mizuno were there on hand to let the runners (literally) test run their shoes.
Matt Baum, a representative from Mizuno, said that the Cinco de Mayo fun run was a great opportunity for the runners - and our very own Lady Lifer Allison - to try something a little different.
“We usually come out two or three times a year to let people demo our shoes, and we especially had to come to this one because it’s Cinco De Mayo.” Baum explained. “It’s a unique opportunity for people to get some miles on our shoes, see if they like them and give us some valuable feedback. There was about 15 or 20 people who got to try us out today, and it’s great to see that they enjoyed them.”
Though Cinco De Mayo, running shoes, and a three mile jog might not always seem like they go together, it certainly did this evening. As the summer kicks off there will be more fun runs for Extra Mile, like their cupcake themed run, along with plenty of opportunities for runners of all paces to have a little more fun each week.
