The Kaiser Permanente Veggie Chase 5K and Kid’s Runs, a new running event debuting this October, bills itself as the region’s “most bodacious” community running event yet, and is getting local support to deliver on this promise. 

According to race organizer, Tim Coughlin with the NorCal Youth Running Foundation, the Veggie Chase shifts the focus to kids, families and beginners and “raises the bar” on value delivered to participants.  “We want to create a super-fun, first class event for kids and families that will act as a really positive “anchor” for fitness and leave participants wanting more.”

The event offers a fun theme where participants get to race against “Veggies” (costumed adults) for fun and prizes.  The more “Veggies” the kids beat, the more raffle tickets they earn for prizes.  Other unique event features include; free entry for kids 12 and under and only $5 for preregistered teens (13-17) and “first-time” adults, plus lot’s of extra awards, prizes and recognition.  There will be awesome food, music, games and entertainment in a beautiful setting along the American River Parkway.  The event offers a distance for everyone, from 5K to Mile to shorter “Kid’s Runs,” all the way down to a “Diaper Dash” and “Toddler Trot” for the little kids.  First-time adults (adults who have never registered for a community running/walking event before) get special recognition and awards.

“We’ve built in lots of fun, rewards and recognition for the kids and beginners,” said Coughlin.  We want them to experience the thrill of finishing a race in front of a large crowd and build confidence and self-esteem for taking on a challenging event.

Community support for the event has been incredible; according to organizers.

“We’ve needed to rely heavily on the business community to under-write the kids and reduce cost barriers for families, and local companies have delivered big time”
said Coughlin!

Kaiser Permanente is the title sponsor and largest contributor and the event has also received nice sponsorships from the City of Rancho Cordova, The Sacramento Union, Spare Time Health Clubs, Talk 650/My 92.5, Fleet Feet Sports, New Balance, Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, Goore’s, Trumpette, Sky High, Teichert, C.C. Myers, Technique Gymnastics and others. 

Local service clubs have also jumped on board, including the Kiwanis, Moose, Rotary, and other clubs, churches, schools, chamber of commerce as well as individuals from the running community. 

It’s amazing how people rally around a cause related to kid’s health,” said Coughlin.

The Veggie Chase benefits Soil Born Farms (www.soilborn.org) an educational urban farm that just acquired 25+ acres next to Hagan Park. Soil Born Farms was recently honored to receive a Creating Healthy Environments Award from the Sacramento Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.

The Veggie Chase takes place on:  Sunday, October 12th at Hagan Park, Rancho Cordova.

For event or sponsor information, go to www.veggiechase.com or contact Tim Coughlin at:  veggiechase@aol.com or (916) 541-6961