Reduce stress before finals by participating in Midnight Fun Run

April 16, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Healthy Gators 2010 and RecSports encourage students, faculty, staff and guests to join a new tradition and participate in the Second Annual Midnight Fun Run on April 24, starting at the O’Connell Center.

Take a break and relieve stress before finals by being a part of this one-of-a-kind annual event. Participants can run a 5K or walk a 1.5-mile route along the “Lake Alice Loop,” starting at the intersection of Gale Lemerand Drive and Stadium Road.

“The purpose of the event is to celebrate the end of the year by doing something good for yourself,” said Jane Emmerée, Healthy Gators 2010 Programming and Communications chairwoman. “We encourage everyone to grab some friends and make it an annual event while you’re in Gainesville. By focusing on yourself, you can alleviate the pressure of finals week before your exams begin.”

Participants can preregister at the Southwest Recreation Center now through Monday or at locations on campus listed on the Healthy Gators 2010 Web site. Preregistration is $10 for all Gator 1 cardholders and $20 for people without Gator 1 cards. On-site registration will begin at gate two of the O’Connell Center at 10:30 p.m. for $20, cash only, for all participants.

The registration fee will include a glow-in-the-dark event T-shirt, Gator wristband and a hot breakfast at Gator Corner Dining Center following the run.

“Last year’s event attracted nearly 400 participants who took off from the starting line at midnight,” said Ryan Wisnoski, an applied physiology and kinesiology student who participated in the run last year. “It’s a unique environment to participate with your friends and fellow classmates under the night sky. Last year’s event was a great success, and I’m expecting this year to be even better.”

For more information about the event and a list of times and places to preregister around campus, visit the Healthy Gators 2010 Web site, www.healthygators.hhp.ufl.edu.