Sara Tiradossi / Winonan

A month from now, Winona State University’s student health and wellness advocates will host the Health Hustle 5K Run/Walk to bring together family and an educational opportunity during family weekend on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The event is open to all students, staff, faculty and their families as well as community members, according to health and wellness promotion coordinator Kathryn Hansen.

“We encourage all to come and participate,”  Hansen said. “There will be prizes for the first three overall finishers and a raffle for various other prizes, such as lake lodge memberships, discounted tickets to community events and other fun prizes.”

The event distance of run, but participants are allowed to walk or jog as well to cross the finish line.

The race starts and ends at the gazebo and extends for two and a half laps around campus route and is open to people of all fitness levels.

“We encourage everyone of all levels and abilities that want to come out and have fun. It’s just meant to encourage some physical activity and get people together,” Hansen said.

Hansen said this is the fifth year the student health and wellness advocates have hosted a 5K, with the goal of supporting their mission, to help model and educate students on a healthy lifestyle.

Last year the race was called “Run for the Well of It 5K,” but since the number of attendance was pretty low, the advocates branded the name towards something more fun this time.

“I have attended the event myself in the past. I like running and 5Ks, so it is something that I am already attracted to,” Hansen said. “Our recruitment goal this year is 130 attendees.”

This year’s race comes with a lot of additional equipment and surprises to encourage a higher number of attendees.

All runners will receive a race bag with coupons from local businesses, a water bottle and the experience of having a workout underneath their belt, Hansen said.

“We plan on having supporting signs and race routes well decorated so that people are not out there just running on their own,” Hansen said.

Hansen said this year the advocates were also able to find a company that would sell them race bibs for a nice discount, so they are excited to make the race look more official.

Funds from the 5K will be used by the advocates to promote specific health issues and healthy behaviors on campus, support their spring break events, send peer educators for more training and education in specific health topics relevant to college students and also support campus programming like the healthy Tuesdays and Wellness Wednesdays that happen weekly, according to Hansen.

This year, the club is hosting the race on campus, so participants get to explore the natural beauty of the university and to support events on the university, Hansen added.

Hansen said she believes the event is great for new students and an opportunity to introduce their families to their campus and community—all while working out.

Participants can register online up until Sept.. 18t. Tickets are $18 before Sept. 1 and $20 afterwards. The cost guarantees a T-shirt if registration is done before Sept. 1.