April 16—If you read the Joplin Globe health page on Saturday, you might be inspired to get outside for exercise and activity now that spring is here.
In his regular health column, Dr. Rob McNab notes that the minimum recommended amount of exercise for most people is 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five days a week, or 150 minutes a week. Simply getting to that level of activity can help us feel better and prevent chronic disease, he writes.
Luckily for us, the Joplin area has no shortage of races and runs coming up in the next few weeks if you want to not only walk, jog or run outdoors, but also mingle with other people and benefit from good causes to start.
Here are some of the upcoming races we know about:
—Lafayette House will hold its Breaking the Silence 5K and 10K races at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 29 at Landreth Park. Registration can be done at runsignup.com; fees are $40 for 5K and $45 for 10K.
Virtual races are also offered for $35 and $40. The event will include a pre-race speaker, survivor line, rewards and free information resources. Proceeds will be donated to Rapha International, which fights against human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
— The Department of Kinesiology at Missouri Southern State University will host a 5K Puppy Glow Run at 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Participants are encouraged to bring their own dogs on a leash.
The Kinesiology Department also partnered with Golden Paw, a nonprofit rescue, adoption center and sanctuary in Joplin, to bring dogs for people to play, run and walk with during the event.
Tickets are $15 for students and $25 for adults; a t-shirt is included. Registration information is available on the MSSU Department of Kinesiology Facebook page.
—The Joplin Humane Society will be hosting its third annual Fast the Furriest Joplin Drift 5K race and one-mile fun run at 8 and 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 6 at King Jack Park in Webb City. Dogs on a leash are welcome to join their owners.
Top finishers will receive trophies; all graduates will receive a medal. Registration fees are currently $30 and $40.
A registration link is available at joplinhumane.org. All proceeds will go to the animal shelter.
—The Joplin Memorial Run is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, May 20. Entry fees are currently $75 for the half marathon, $50 for a 10k, $40 for a 5k and $10 for a kids race. Register on joplinmemorialrun.com.
The run aims to honor the 161 victims of the May 2011 tornado and to celebrate Joplin’s resilience in overcoming the destruction caused by the storm.
Event organizers have donated more than $300,000 to area charities over the past decade.