The Salisbury Church started a new race based off the Run for God 5K.

The race will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Salisbury Church parking lot.

Erica Roa, the assistant director of the Office of Student Standards, said in an email the Run for a Son is an 11-week training program to prepare people for a 5K in conjunction with a bible study Roa was a participant in.

She said Run for the Son will conclude the training, which is a 12-week training program for a 5K.

Roa said this is the first time they have had this program, and they are opening up the race to everyone.

“Throughout the course of the study, there were several other members of the church that approached members of the group regarding running the final race, and so that is why we opened it up to everyone,” Roa said.

Roa said she is excited to see how it turns out.

“The people that have been a part of this bible study have worked really hard in their training, and I look forward to seeing each and every one of them cross the finish line,” Roa said.

The race is free to participate in this year, she said.

Roa said people will start gathering at the church around 8:30 a.m.

She said they are welcoming volunteers to help direct traffic while the race is taking place.

The race will start in the church parking lot. Racers will go along State Street before making a right on 18th Street.

They will then make a left onto Route 130 before making an immediate right onto Railroad Avenue. The last leg of the race is a left on Division Street and then a left onto State Street back to the church parking lot.

Roa said the main goal of the race is to have fun.

“This is not a competitive race so there are no medals or prizes for participating,”
 Roa said. “It is simply to run the race.”

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