Tag Archives: River Bank Run

River Bank Run moved to October

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Amway River Bank Run organizers announced this week that the 2021 event date has changed from May 8 to Oct. 23 in downtown Grand Rapids. The decision to move the 44th iteration of the annual event was made after careful consideration and consultation with local health professionals, including health partner Spectrum Health.

The specific event details and safety procedures are still being finalized and will be communicated as they are confirmed. Organizers believe delaying the event to October from its usual second Saturday in May date will allow the occasion to resemble more closely what participants and spectators have come to expect from Grand Rapids’ signature outdoor sporting event.

“The safety of the runners, volunteers and supporters has always been at the center of every decision we’ve made regarding last year’s and this year’s event,” said Russ Hines, owner, Riverbank Events and Media, which owns and operates the annual event. “Even though we do expect there to still be COVID-19 safety precautions in place this October, we felt that it was in everyone’s best interest to allow more time to be comfortable with an in-person event.”

 

Participants that registered for the May 8 date will automatically be confirmed for the Oct. 23 event.

The social distancing required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 in-person event, but as more people have learned how to manage social distancing, and giving more time for participants to be vaccinated, run officials believe a later 2021 in-person event is prudent.

“We feel delaying this year’s event to allow more participants and volunteers to be vaccinated will give us the chance to offer a safer and responsible in-person event,” Amway River Bank Run race director David Madiol said. “We continue to be very grateful for the community’s support this past year and look forward to seeing people’s smiles downtown next October, even if they’re behind masks!”

“We commend and support Amway River Bank Run organizers in moving the event to the fall and balancing the desire to ‘return to normal’ with the need to protect the health and safety of participants and the community at large. We look forward to partnering on a successful race,” said Spectrum Health president and CEO Tina Freese Decker.

Anyone interested in receiving race details can sign up for an email newsletter at https://amwayriverbankrun.com/enews-signup/. Questions can be emailed to runinfo@amwayriverbankrun.com.

Run your way to your best self

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Want to run a 5K, 10K or 25K? Set a goal and make a plan for how to achieve it. (Chris Clark | Spectrum Health Beat)

By Diana Bitner, MD, Spectrum Health Beat


Why do you run? Why should anyone run?


I once had a patient I’ll call Laura who taught me the power of goal-setting and running.


I always knew goal-setting could be an effective motivator and used this in my personal life to get through school, medical training, fitness goals, to help my kids, and so forth, but had not explored how to utilize the power of a goal for healthy aging for others.


I remember seeing Laura for her annual physical, and she told me she had been through a rough time in her marriage, did not like her job, had stopped working out, gained weight, ate without planning or thinking, and did not feel attractive or energetic.


When asked what goal she had for herself at a date in the future, she said she wanted to be hot. She defined ‘hot’ as fit, back in her old clothes, and able to run and exercise like when she was 40.


My next question was, “How badly do you want this?” She told me she knew she wanted this.


In the past she had been a runner, and knew the River Bank Run was coming up. She told me to expect great things and left with her shoulders back and a smile.


More than a year later, while rushing through a busy day, I went around the corner fast in the hallway. I almost ran into a woman I did not recognize, and excused myself. It was Laura, and she laughed when she realized I did not recognize her. I looked closer and my chin dropped.


Laura had achieved her goal. She looked fit, had lost a significant amount of weight, and had a big smile on her face. She said, “I did it, I am hot!”


In the intervening year, she had gone online to the River Bank Run website, and used its planning tool to train for the race.


She had not run in years, and took the first several months slow, working on her endurance, and being careful to not get too impatient. She took note of warming up, stretching and improving her core strength to avoid injury, and even visited a local trainer to make sure she was being smart.


Once she built her base, she started working harder, and at the same time did research on a healthy diet for her workouts and made sure she had plenty of complex carbs like brown rice, Ezekiel bread, sweet potatoes and oatmeal.


Running most days helped her sleep improve, and on busy days she would even run indoors at 8 or 9 at night. Her mood improved, she made better choices in her personal and professional life, and began to fit into her old clothes again. The image of being hot at 50 kept her going, even on days she did not feel like running. She always felt better after a run.


Race day came and she finished in a respectable time. She lost 55 pounds, regained her self-respect and liked herself again. She was ready to enjoy her 50th.


I loved her story as it shows what a goal can do to motivate someone. Not only did she achieve her goal, but felt better and better each day. And not only did she change her outside, but her inside as well.


With exercise and weight loss come a healthier blood vessel system with smooth walls and a lower chance of building up plaque. This lowers the chance of dementia, stroke and heart attack.


Her bones increased in density, lowering the risk of osteoporosis and fracture. The weight loss also lowered her risk of many cancers, namely breast and uterine cancer.


Most of all, Laura took care of herself.


Even if running is not your thing, we encourage all people to set a life goal. Think of a key event in your life — a birthday, a child’s wedding (or your own), retirement, or a dream vacation. Write it down, talk about it, make a plan on how to achieve that goal, and get busy.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.