Ready, set, go…

The Homecoming race will start off the homecoming events for the 12th year Saturday.

The Department of Recreation Administration will sponsor its 12th annual 2.5 K Homecoming Race/Walk at 9 a.m. at Old Main for students, staff and community members.

Nate Atkinson, web developer with the Center for Academic Technology Support and the organizer of the 2.5 K Homecoming Race/ Walk, said the event was started by John Pommier, a retired professor of recreation administration.

Atkinson said Pommier started the race to add to the list of Homecoming events for the weekend.

Atkinson said the racers will run the course of the parade route. This route is about 1.55 miles.

The participants will begin at the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue and will make their way north on Seventh Street to the Charleston Square, then return to Old Main on Sixth Street.

“The atmosphere it’s just a fun race,” Atkinson said. “You have the crazies who are out there for the parade, you get to run by them.”

The race has different sections, one for runners and walkers, and another for participants in wheelchairs.

Atkinson said he ran the race when he was a student at Eastern in 2005 and enjoyed participating in it.

When Pommier retired the event needed an organizer and Atkinson volunteered for the spot.

“I’ve raced it a few times a couple of years ago when I was a student and I help manage a lot of the cross country and track and field races and meets here at EIU, so I thought I would check in to see what I could do to help with the Homecoming race,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson said many of the participants feel better after the race is over.

“Everyone feels more fulfilled after running, running is a good thing for you,” Atkinson said.

During the race, there will a costume contest, he said. The best full-bodied costume will receive a prize.

The winners of each section will receive prizes and all of the participants receive a gift pack, food and drinks from McDonalds.

Atkinson said he hopes the records are broken this year. Atkinson said the men’s record is 7 minutes and 10 seconds and men’s wheelchair is 7 minutes and 34 seconds.

The women’s record is 8 minutes and 57 seconds and wheelchairs was 8 minutes and 14 seconds.

People who want to participate in the race can sign up through the Eastern website or the morning of the race from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. in the foyer of Old Main.

Participants who are already registered have to sign in before the race in the foyer of Old Main and pick up their race numbers.

Atkinsons said he thinks the race is a good way to start off the Homecoming weekend.

“It’s a lot of fun and it gets your Saturday morning started off right,” Atkinson said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.