Fleet Feet Sports Lady Distance Classic

This 6th annual event is a women's only run and walk intended to celebrate women's health and fitness, to encourage women to get and stay fit, and to raise important funds for a division of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center dedicated to the preventing and treating cervical cancer. The 6th Annual Fleet Feet Sports Lady Distance Classic includes the Oxford Physical Therapy Family Festival and the Balega Lil’ Bug Kids Fun Run and 1-Miler.

10,000 Meters (6.2 miles) and 5,000 Meters (3.1 miles). The events are certified and sanctioned by the USATF-National Governing Body of Track and Field, Long Distance Running and Race Walking.

The course starts and finishes at the Blue Ash Nature Park. Runners/walkers will head west on Cooper Road, winding through various Blue Ash neighborhoods, offering a very scenic route.

This is a WOMEN-ONLY EVENT!

For safety reasons, in-line skates, Ipods or any other head phone devices, skateboards and dogs will be prohibited from the race course. Participants using baby joggers/strollers must register for the BOB Stroller 5K.

The 10K and 5K will begin at 7:15 a.m. for runners. The 10K and 5K for walkers and the BOB Stroller 5K will begin at 7:16 a.m.

There will be three fluid stations for the 10K and one for the 5K. Gatorade will be served as the official sports drink.

Due to construction, there will be very limited parking near the Blue Ash Recreation Center. Official event parking will be located at U.C. Raymond Walters College, located at 9555 Plainfield Rd. A free shuttle be available to the start/finish area, beginning at 5:45 a.m. The last shuttle will leave the Blue Ash Administration Building at 11:15 a.m. For more information about parking, please visit www.ladydistanceclassic.com.

There is a Women's Training Program for the Lady Distance Classic 10K and 5K provided by Fleet Feet Sports, Venus Fitness and National City. The training program will begin on May 28, 2008. This training program is for runners and walkers of all abilities who would like to join with other women in an organized program to prepare for either the 5K or the 10K. A novice and advanced training option will be available. Participants may register online for the training program through June 16 when registering for the event. For more information, go to
www.ladydistanceclassic.com.

Race results will be available at www.ladydistanceclassic.com.

Bring the whole family to cheer you on! Join us for the FREE Family Festival presented by Oxford Physical Therapy. This event is from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and features food, entertainment, music, massage, injury screenings, health assessments, kid's activities, and a Brooks Sports/Sara Benjamin Fashion Show.

This division is for women who would like to run or walk with children in a baby jogger/stroller. This will be the only division where strollers will be allowed. The BOB Stroller 5K will be timed event. Awards will be presented to the top 3 overall finishers.

The division is for teams of girls age 18 and under. Participation is open to sports teams (i.e. cross country, track, basketball, soccer, etc.), school clubs, organizations or any group of young women who would like to form a team for the event. A prize will be given to the three teams that have the most girls running/walking teams. Teams may include runners and/or walkers and teams may participate in either the 10K or 5K.

The Balega Lil' Bug Kids Fun Run, 1 Miler and Kids' Fest starts at 8 a.m. The Kids' Fun Run events will be held at 9:30 a.m. Distances will vary by age. Kids age 12 and under are able to participate in the events including the Kids 1 Miler. The event is $10 for preregistration and $12 on race day. Race entry will include: a special finisher's award, a race t-shirt and after-run snacks.

Participants may pre-register for the 10K/5K Run and Walk for an entry fee of $30. Entry fee includes race entry, a Brooks women's technical top, goody bag and the post-race festival. Online registration ends Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. Registration will also be available at packet pick-up.

Participants may pick up race packets and register for the races at Fleet Feet Sports located at the corner of Kenwood and Cooper Roads in Blue Ash, 9525 Kenwood Rd, 513-793-8383. The dates and times are listed below:

Saturday, July 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 31 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Race day registration begins at 6 a.m. at the Blue Ash Recreation Center, 4433 Cooper Road. Entry fee on race day is $35.

The top three finishers in both the running and walking categories will receive a special award provided by Harper's Point Eye Associates. Awards will also be presented to the top 3 finishers in age group divisions.

Cash awards are generously provided by National City and will be given to the top three overall winners in the 10K: 1st - $500, 2nd - $250, 3rd - $100. A special award will also be given to the top three overall winners in the 10K walking category.

Awards will be presented to the top three runners and walkers for both the 10K and the 5K for the following age divisions: 14 and under; 15-18; 19-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; & 70-Over.

Volunteers are needed for all events. Please contact Katie at Fleet Feet Sports. Katie may be reached at katie@fleetfeetcincy.com or 513-793-8383.

Proceeds from the Fleet Feet Sports Lady Distance Classic will directly support a community-wide effort led by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center focused on the prevention of cervical cancer among local women and girls. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in support of this program.

By supporting the Fleet Feet Sports Lady Distance Classic, you will be helping to fund a coordinated effort to educate the community about HPV vaccines that help prevent cervical cancer and to make those vaccines accessible to all women, especially those at highest risk for cervical cancer. As a result of your support, community health agencies will work together to expand their efforts to advocate for, educate and vaccinate as many women as possible.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with as many as 75 to 80 per cent of U.S. adults having been exposed to at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives. HPV can cause cervical cancer. In the United States, about 10,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and about 3,700 women die each year from this disease. By providing your support to the Fleet Feet Sports Lady Distance Classic, we can help prevent the women and girls of Cincinnati from becoming one of these statistics.