Before the Homecoming race this Saturday, Charleston, McDonald’s and the Shirt Factory will hold its seventh annual 2.5K Homecoming Race.

The race will include a running, walking and wheelchair competition, all starting at 9 a.m.

The race is put on by the Recreation Administration Department, their majors club, the University’s Homecoming Committee and the city of Charleston.

“It has just become a great event to be apart of,” said Kristina Neven, a returning 2005 alum. “(It) promotes a community environment to kickoff the Homecoming weekend while also promoting a healthy lifestyle.”

When Neven was a student and president of the Rec. Club, John Henry Pommier, assistant therapeutic research professor, and she helped coordinate the race.

“Since then I have graduated and I still like to take part in the event as a runner,” Neven said. “I may not finish first but I’ll be having a great time with the old alum as well as the new students of Eastern.”

Being that the race is so short it provides an entertaining and unique experience for the racers.

“You don’t hear about races as short as 2.5K,” Pommier said. “The racer finishes excited and not worn out.”

Pommier also attributed the course for how quick the race is.

The race route is the same as the Homecoming parade, which includes two slight downhills and only one uphill battle for the competitors.

Pommier expects the fastest time to be about 8 minutes and 6 minutes in the wheelchair.

“If you break records, you get your name on a T-shirt,” Pommier said.

Prizes will be provided by McDonald’s, and Pommier said the prizes vary by year.

He said in the past that winners have received unique prizes like crystal plaques.

“(The prizes) aren’t high school trophies that you store in the attic and forget about,” Pommier said.

In previous competitions, McDonald’s has also given out free value meals, food and drinks and coupons to all contestants.

Most of the racers are Eastern students and Alums but Pommier did say the participants vary from four to 80 years old.

Pommier expects there to be about 150 participants present, almost half of which register the day of the race.

Susan Friend, a 1978 alum, said she will also be returning to race.

“It’s always fun to come to Charleston and see what familiar faces may pop up,” Friend said. “You get to see people, go to the game and relive memories, even some that should be forgotten! It gives you a bit of a ‘time stands still’ type of experience. That is fun.”

Friend said Charleston is her hometown, so she will be able visit friends and family at the same time. Friend’s daughter currently attends Eastern, meaning she will partake is quite a few activities this weekend.

At the end of the race, Pommier has the participants fill out a survey which, he said, has had very positive results in the past.

“Ninety-nine percent (of past contestants) have said they are extremely satisfied and would recommend it to a friend,” Pommier said.