Get Healthy 5K and Fun Bike Ride April 21 at WSCC

CONTACT: Gail Crutchfield, Communications and Marketing, Wallace State Community College, 256.352.8064, gail.crutchfield@wallacestate.edu
 
HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State Community College wants the community to get on their feet, on their bike, or both, and help a local organization at the same time.
The college will host a Get Healthy Fun Bike and 5K on April 21. The 5K will start at 3 p.m. and the Fun Bike Ride will start at 4 p.m. , both from Tom Drake Coliseum. Registration for the 5K is from 2-2:45 p.m., and from 2-3:45 p.m. for the Fun Bike Ride.
The registration fee for the 5K is $10, with proceeds benefiting United Way of Cullman County. There are 12 age categories, with the top three male and female finishers in each category receiving a certificate. The overall male and female winners will receive a cash award
The Fun Bike Ride is free to enter. T-shirts will provided to the first 100 people who pay their $10 entry fee for the 5K or bike riders who wish to purchase a shirt for a $10 donation to United Way.
The event is the latest in the college’s Healthy Campus Initiative, which this spring is encouraging students, faculty, and staff to bring an extra set of wheels on campus. A cycling initiative was rolled out on April 1, with a 2-mile bike route marked around the perimeter of the campus.
The cycling initiative comes on the heels of the fall walking initiative that encouraged students, faculty, and staff to walk around the campus as a way to improve their overall health and well-being.
“We thought with spring we wanted to do something a little different, but still get them out on campus and moving,” said Cynthia Newman, director of the WSCC Wellness Center. “We thought biking would be a good option.”
Biking, Newman said, is a good cardio workout because it increases your heart rate. Biking also provides benefits that a moderate walk can’t provide, especially to areas of the lower body. Biking is often recommended, she said, to people who are about to have or have had knee surgery, to strengthen those muscles.
The 2-mile bike route follows the perimeter of the campus, with a portion of the route utilizing the sidewalk running parallel to U.S. Highway 31 and a portion that runs parallel to College Drive. The route is also open to public use.
“It’s pretty scenic on the backside of the route,” Newman said. “You’ll go by the pond and the soccer fields.”
Newman encourages anyone riding their bikes on campus to wear a helmet and follow proper biking safety and traffic rules.
For more information on the Get Health Fun Bike and 5K, contact Stacey Sivley at Stacey.sivley@wallacestate.edu or by calling 256.352.8241.
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY:
-A bicycle is recognized as a vehicle by all 50 states.
-Bicycles have the same rights and duties as motor vehicles—all signs, lights, and signals apply equally to cars and bikes.
-Ride on the right side of the road, as far right as you safely can and in the same direction as the traffic around you.
-When riding at night, make sure your bicycle is equipped with a white headlight attached to the front, and a clearly visible red reflector at the rear.
Other important guidelines for cyclists to follow for the prevention of accidents and injuries:
-Wear a helmet. It might prevent a serious head injury in the event of a fall or collision.
-Sidewalks are for pedestrians, so avoid riding your bike anywhere but on the road. During the WSCC Cycling Initiative, permission has been given for cyclists to ride on the front sidewalk that parallels Highway 31 as part of the two mile loop around campus.
-Beware of parked cars. A door might open suddenly, or a car might pull out into traffic right in front of you. Be prepared at all times to stop or move without swerving into traffic.
-Be aware. When entering traffic or pulling out of driveways or alleys, watch for cars and pedestrians.
-Think ahead. Anticipate others’ mistakes and leave room and time for defensive action. For example, cars or trucks making right turns might not see you, so leave room to react safely.
-Yield to cars. Even if you think you have the right of way, remember that a car is much bigger, faster, heavier, and harder to maneuver than a bike.
-Check the weather. Rain, fog, and snow make cycling especially dangerous, so it’s best not to bicycle in bad weather. Similarly, try to avoid riding at night—it’s harder for motorists to see you, and harder for you to see potential hazards. If you must ride at night, use the required lighting and reflective equipment and wear reflective and/or light colored clothing.
-New riders, be sure your bike is the correct size for you so you can control it effectively.
-Never wear head phones or ear plugs to listen to music while you ride to be alert to hazards on the route.
 

 
______________________________
Kristen Holmes
Director, Communications & Marketing
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 256-352-8118 direct
256-352-8314 fax 256-339-2519 cell
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu