By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
A fresh start for fitness
Resolution Runz help runners stick to 2013 goals
DSC 0195
To help South Bryan residents commit to a healthier lifestyle in 2013, Georgia Game Changers Running Company has teamed up with the Richmond Hill High School JROTC program and WaterWays Township to host the inaugural Resolution Runz on Jan. 19.

To help South Bryan residents commit to a healthier lifestyle in 2013, Georgia Game Changers Running Company has teamed up with the Richmond Hill High School JROTC program and WaterWays Township to host the inaugural Resolution Runz on Jan. 19 at WaterWays.

Resolution Runz is a three-race event that will feature one-mile, three-mile and 10-mile runs through the 2,300-acre wooded community. The races will be staggered throughout the morning to accommodate runners participating in all three races.

“At the beginning of the new year, people make resolutions, and I wanted to give people of all fitness levels a reason to keep working on their resolutions three weeks after making them,” said Sandra Elliott, owner of Georgia Game Changers.

All proceeds from the races will benefit the Wildcat Battalion and its 289 JROTC cadets.

“Here we are starting a new year, and people are looking toward the future. These kids, the youth in JROTC, are our future,” said Elliott.

In return, Wildcat cadets have taken on the lion’s share of preparations — plotting the courses, securing sponsors and handling many of the race-day details.

Elliot’s daughter, Amanda, is a JROTC cadet and has been named the school’s Cross Country Runner of the Year twice in a row. She and her fellow cadets have spent the last five weeks planning the Resolution Runz.

“I’ve been in a lot of races, but I really haven’t ever put one together,” said Amanda. “By helping with this one, I’ve learned a lot about the process, and it’s really helped our communication skills. It’s teaching us to trust and rely on each other.”

Cadet Gareth Price, a senior who plans to attend the Air Force Academy in the fall, said organizing the event has helped prepare him for life after high school.

“JROTC is all about promoting better citizens and leadership skills. Putting this event together is giving us real-world business and organizational skills. You have preparation, planning, leadership and execution. There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into this,” he said.

This is the first organized running event held at WaterWays Township, but Vance Askew, director of sales, marketing and public affairs at the community, said it won’t be the last.

“We believe that this is an opportunity we will continue to develop as our community grows,” he said. “Our lifestyle at WaterWays is all about enjoying the outdoors, and I believe we have a very special environment that people will really love.

All race participants will receive a T-shirt and a bag of gifts from the event’s sponsors. Prizes will be awarded to the runners with the fastest times in various categories.

The price to register is $20 for one race, $25 for two or $30 for all three. Strollers are permitted in the one- and three-mile races. Pets are prohibited. Childcare will be provided by Richmond Hill First Baptist Church.

To register or find out more about the Resolution Runz, call Georgia Game Changers at 445-2163, or visit www.active.com and search by zip code.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters