SOS 5K goes virtual this year
Participation accepted from treadmill, outdoor locations
COVID-19 won’t stop the over 30-year tradition of the UCS-Sterling Heights SOS 5K, although the venue this year won’t be Dodge Park. Instead, local runners will be on their treadmills or in local neighborhoods of participants.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 UCSSterling Heights SOS 5K will be a virtual event. This allows participants to register for a run or walk distance in a safe location they choose, such as on a treadmill at home or outdoors along a favorite route. City of Sterling Heights Recreation Superintendent of Facilities Mark DiSanto said the race can be completed based upon a participant’s schedule between the dates of May 30 through June 6.
“The 5K race is a partnership between the Utica Community Schools district and the City of Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation Department,” DiSanto said. “Proceeds go towards the youth sports programs at UCS. The SOS in the name of the event stands for Save Our Sports.”
Registration for the event can be done online at bit.ly/2XIfnCE. Options include a virtual 5K run/ walk for adults at $20 per person, a virtual 5K run/ walk student price for those age 16 and under of $15 per person, or a virtual one mile run at $15 per person.
DiSanto said that the race has been a tradition for over 30 years and is normally held in Dodge Park, located on the corner of Utica Road and Dodge Park Road. He also said the partnership with the school district began in 2013, which increased participation. Recent races, prior to 2020, included a route starting on Dodge Park Road with runners going the first mile on this road and then moving into Dodge Park and trails to complete the race.
“Once more information was coming up regarding social gatherings, the likelihood of doing the race like we normally did was not becoming realistic due to public safety,” DiSanto said. “We still wanted to provide a race that people could participate in but still follow the social distancing rules and regulations set by the state to stay safe. So a virtual run
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Race packets will be mailed to participants. The registration deadline to be guaranteed a shirt size and packet delivered by the event date is May 21. Participants will receive an event shirt and race bib. Registrants age 12 and under will also have a medal included in their race event packets. DiSanto said that the final registration deadline for the race is May 29, 5 p.m.
Participants in the event will be able to post their results on the Enmotive platform, and earn a printed certificate of participation. Photos can be posted to the Facebook event page of facebook.com/ events/564567314119313. Those who post photos to the Facebook event page will be automatically eligible for the Hanson’s Running Shop gift card raffle. Gift cards will be mailed to winners.