Midnight 5K up and running
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Lucie Cyliax of Youth Mobilizers, left, Teen Council coordinator Lindsey Britt and Volunteen coordinator Sarah Weaver discuss preparations for a Teens for the Betterment of Bartholomew County event.
Stephen Dishinger swears that running by moonlight is fun. Even in the predawn darkness of winter, he trudges four to six miles several times per week.
So he figures a midnight jog should hardly be different.
But Dishinger understands that the concept of the Glow in the Park midnight 5-kilometer run Aug. 10 might be unusual for some. In fact, Dishinger, program specialist for Teens for the Betterment of Bartholomew County, hopes that the novelty factor will throw the light of publicity on the event.
Dishinger organized a midnight run in Seymour two years ago. That event attracted more than 100 runners. So, he and a team of teen organizers hope for that kind of success here.
“I think we’re doing pretty good so far,” he said.
About 45 people have registered in two weeks’ time.
The organizing group is a blend of members from Teen Council, Youth Mobilizers, and Volunteen. It works to plan and schedule events usually for young people. But the run represents an offering for all ages, said Lindsey Britt, Teen Council coordinator.
“We haven’t really done anything like this before (beyond a teen audience),” Britt said. “The idea is that we think we’re going to get kids already involved with athletics at their school to participate. And we think this is something that would interest everyone who wants to stay healthy and stay in shape.”
Britt is a serious-enough runner herself that she has competed in the Columbus Sprint Triathalon and is a sprinter with the Columbus North High School track team.
She and a team of organizers — Trendha Hunter, Sarah Weaver and Lucie Cyliax — have been working to secure sponsorships. She said that she will measure the first-time success on more than entrants.
“It would just be nice if the event goes smoothly, and those who participate have a lot of fun and say they would like to participate again,” Britt said.
But she is uncertain that she actually will be among the competitors at the midnight hour.
“That’s a good question,” Britt said. “There’s a good chance that I’ll be doing some sort of odd job (behind the scenes).”
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