Runners, bikers flock to Fitness Festival

The La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department is hosting an event that is the first in city history. From May 1-3, La Crosse will host its first-ever Fitness Festival, which will include the first marathon in La Crosse history along with a half marathon, cycle criterium, 5K race, kids races, fitness expo, and last but not least a mascot race. Now someone may ask why hold a fitness festival? Well it is all going with our city's push to become the healthiest city in America. The festival kicks off Friday, May 1 with the Fitness Expo which will go from 5pm-9pm and is located at the La Crosse Center. This event is free to everyone and is all based on health and fitness. There will be numerous vendors and exhibitors so people of all ages can learn and see the newest and coolest tricks of the trade in the health and fitness industries. The expo will continue on Saturday May 2 again at the La Crosse Center from 11am-8pm. Also at the expo, there is the chance to purchase your very own La Crosse Fitness Festival gear and clothing to show your pride in our city's movement to be number one. The La Crosse Center is also the location for packet pick up for the marathon and half marathon runners. The La Crosse marathon and the St. Clare Health Mission half marathon are each held on Sunday, May 3 beginning at Pettibone Park at 8am sharp. Arriving early would be the best suggestion. The race will go through La Crosse with the half marathon ending in Myrick Park while the full marathoners will continue on into Onalaska and then return to Myrick for the finish. To register for this great event check out the web at www.lacrossefitnessfestival.com or stop in the City of La Crosse Parks and Recreation Office. Registration for the full and half marathon ends on April 30. One thing that can't be forgotten is the special finishers' dry wick long sleeves that are given to each runner to help commemorate your accomplishment. On Sunday the city is hosting a unique event called the cycling criterium. Come watch some intense cycling racing through the downtown streets off La Crosse at 9am with the guarantee of excitement and action in every corner. For those seeking a challenge but not one as daunting as running 26.2 miles, check out either the Three Rivers 5K run or 5K walk, both of which will begin at Riverside Park in La Crosse. The awards ceremony will begin around 11:30am near the finish line with trophies going to the top three men's and women's finishers. This is expected to have the largest turnout of all the races. So think you can't do a 5K? Well don't worry, there will be competitors of all skill levels. Registration is open until the morning of the race. Those who complete the race will receive a commemorative finishers t-shirt. So get ready, La Crosse, to get active for the firs-ever La Crosse Fitness Festival, and be the start of a new tradition for many great years to come. Refer to the web at www.lacrossefitnessfestival.com or check in at the city of La Crosse Parks and Recreation Office. Hope to see you out and about training and at all the festivities. Save that first weekend in May for this special event!