'Back In Shape Run' will Continue to Be Fastest 5K In Minnesota Continued.

Two fellow Kenyans – Benson Chesang and Sammy Malakwen - have committed to entering this year’s race and are expected to challenge last year’s winner, Matthew Chesang. Benson Chesang won the Big 12 Cross Country championships twice, and has a best of 13:53 in the 5k. Malakwen won the pretigious 2008 Get In Gear 10k in 30:51.

The Back In Shape Run features a prize purse of $6,550 this year. The purse includes a $1,000 cash prize for the top male and top female finishers; a $500 cash prize for the top finishing male and female Americans; a $500 cash prize for the race’s second-place male and female runners; a $300 cash prize for the race’s third-place male and female runners; a $200 cash prize for the race’s fourth-place male and female runners; a $100 cash prize for the race’s fifth-place male and female runner; $25 Visa gift cards for the first-place male and female finishers in each of 15 age categories; and $10 Visa gift cards to the second- and third-place male and female finishers in each of 15 age categories.

The Back in Shape Run continues to be one of the most luxurious races in the state, featuring a post-race buffet that earns rave reviews each year; free health screenings and sports massages; indoor restrooms; open swimming in the University’s pool before and after the event; and access to locker rooms and showers.

Participants in the event have the opportunity to raise money for Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People, a Bloomington organization that meets the multiple issues of a household in crisis, from putting food on the table tonight to providing assistance with employment and affordable housing over the long term. 

This year the walk portion of the event will be held in memory of Patrick Holmes, an exercise therapist at Northwestern who died in the I-35W bridge collapse on Aug. 1, 2007. The walk will now be known as the Patrick Holmes Memorial 5K Walk.

Holmes had worked in the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies since 2001. In 2003, he was named Rehabilitation Services Coordinator and provided therapy of rehabilitative, self-care and home exercise components of federally funded clinical trials.

Holmes is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, Gavin, age 7, and Rena, age 5.

Those registered for either the walk or the run will have the option of donating and/or collecting pledges for the Holmes Children Education Fund, which will provide scholarships for the Holmes’ children’s college education.

Sarah Zwagerman, clinical research administrator who worked with Holmes in the research department, said the family-oriented race is the perfect way to remember Holmes because of his dedication to both family and physical activity.

“Pat’s family was everything to him,” she said. “It’s a nice combination of family and the rehab part of him. It’s doing something active instead of just sitting around and talking about him.”

Zwagerman said the research staff is still “going through the motions” and remembering Holmes as they come across notes written by him as he worked with patients.

“It’s interesting when it happened because people think it’s a co-worker, and you didn’t know him that well,” she said. “But those are the people you go to work with eight to 10 hours a day. He was part of our research family.”

Holmes’ wife and children will start off the walk and his parents will be present as well.

Sarah Erickson , Race Director
CDI Back In Shape Run and Patrick Holmes Memorial 5K Walk

We are always looking for feedback from our events, if you have anything you would like to share, e-mail serickson@nwhealth.edu.

2007 Race Results Posted Online

Interested in the results of the CDI Back In Shape Run and Walk, click here.

QUESTIONS

Send an e-mail to Sarah Erickson, serickson@nwhealth.edu.