Run for health and good causes

It’s perfect weather for running and there’s still time to sign up for several upcoming races in and around Midtown.

The runningnerds 5K will be staged on Saturday, April 14 in West Midtown. It will begin and finish at , located at 1192 Foster Street. The mission of runningnerds is to provide a social forum, resource, and service for the contemporary running community.

The goals and initiatives of the 2012 launch of runningnerds include providing a fun and innovative health and fitness education platform; assist runningnerds in training to start or join a running group with a mission and purpose; host running events for runners by runners with the runningnerd spirit at the forefront; and build a social forum with other runners to share successes, challenges, and the quirks of a running lifestyle.

See here for more information.

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Atlanta police and fire chiefs George Turner and Kelvin Cochran will face off in a friendly challenge at the Atlanta BeltLine Northside 5K on Saturday, April 28, according to an announcement.

Beginning and ending in Tanyard Creek Park, the Atlanta BeltLine Northside 5K is a run/walk on the Atlanta BeltLine Northside Trail through Tanyard Creek, Howard and Ardmore Parks and along streets in the  Collier Hills, Collier Hills North and Ardmore Park neighborhoods, the release said.

Participants are encouraged to arrive by 7 a.m. for parking, number pickup and preparations as the event will kick off sharply at 8 a.m.

Registration for the Atlanta BeltLine Northside 5K is available at the early bird rate of $30 until April 16, when registration rates go to $35. The run is limited to 700 participants due to course constraints. For more information and to register, visit Run.BeltLine.org or visit WestStride for in-store registration. There will be no race-day registration for this event.

Along with the Atlanta police-fire rematch, the event will include a field day challenge after the race. Developed by the Atlanta Community Tool Bank and JFitness Body Solutions, the Field Day Challenge will include such activities as Frisbee tossing, dizzy shoe sprints, and sack races, as well as team challenges such as rolling tires and wheelbarrow races.

Atlanta BeltLine Northside 5K runners can register for the Field Day at http://atlbeltlinefieldday.eventbrite.com.

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The 22nd annual Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure 5K run/walk and 1 mile walk will take place Saturday, May 12, at Atlantic Station. This year, an expected 18,000 Atlantans will help raise $2 million to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Participants are encouraged to take advantage of the $30 registration price, available until April 21. Registration fees will increase to $35 for adults after April 21, until Race day. Registration for children will remain $20 during the registration period. Participants registered after April 21, must pick up their Race numbers on Race day.

Both online and paper registration methods are available. Participants can take advantage of the online registration now through May 9. Race day entries are also welcome.

Komen Atlanta also encourages registered participants to raise pledges. Registrants who fundraise will be eligible for different levels of pledge prizes, depending on the amount raised. Participants are able to raise pledges until May 31, the fundraising deadline. The number one reason people do not give is because they are not asked, thus registrants are encouraged to start asking for pledges.

Largely due to funds raised during the 2011 Race for the Cure, Komen Atlanta will award 2.2 million to 22 local breast health screening and education programs during its 2012-2013 fiscal year. Twenty-five percent of the organization’s total revenue will also be given to the national Komen Research Grant Program to find a cure for the disease.

“Most Race participants have been personally affected by breast cancer and desire to make a difference in the fight against the disease,” said Kelly Dolan, executive director of Komen Atlanta in a release. “Our goal is to encourage early registration to maximize fundraising efforts so that we are able to fund vital screening services and research that enable women in our community to detect and survive breast cancer.”

Visit www.komenatlanta.org to register online for the 2012 Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure and get up-to-date information about the event. For event questions, please e-mail race@komenatlanta.org or call the Komen Atlanta office at 404-459-8700.