A start for new Fresh Start 5K

A group of West Homewood residents has been organizing to build community through a farmer’s market and a community exchange the past couple of years, and now they are bringing a 5K race to the area with the same end goal in mind.

 “Our hope is that the community will gather together in groups to prepare for the run,” market manager Kenyon Ross said. “We will be providing tools to help people find groups to train together and are excited that something like a run can bring so many people together!”

The Fresh Start 5K will be held Saturday, July 27 at 8 a.m.

The course, which starts and ends at the West Homewood Farmer’s Market at 160 Oxmoor Road, will take runners through the streets of the local West Homewood community.

In addition to the 5K race, there will be a 1-mile fun run. Runners (or walkers!) of all ages are invited to participate in what organizers hope will become an annual event.

Proceeds from the race will be used to improve the West Homewood Farmer’s Market, whose goal is to benefit the local community as well as local Alabama farmers.

“We wanted to have the race on one of the Farmer’s Market’s days, and so we pushed it out until the last Saturday giving people plenty of time to get ready for the race,” Ross said. “Supporters who aren’t running in the race can hang-out at the market and enjoy what the market features every Saturday: great locally grown food; specialty items such as cheese, pickled vegetables, home-cooked cinnamon buns (not so healthy I know!); activities for kids; arts and crafts; live music; and so much more.”

Participants can register for either the 5K race or the fun run at active.com/running/homewood-al/fresh-start-5k-2013.

In addition to prizes for the first overall male and female finisher, there will be prizes for the top three male and female runners in each age group for the 5K race. The cost of the race is $10, with the optional purchase of a T-shirt for $20-$25.

For more visit westhomewood.com.