Run (or walk) on down to the Knoxville Zoo on March 2! 

Information provided by Knox County Schools and Knoxville Parent
Photo provided by the Run For The Schools Facebook page

How many races get you face to face with an elephant while you support education in East Tennessee? Just one – the Rusty Wallace Honda Run for the Schools on Saturday, March 2.

The Rusty Wallace Honda Run for the Schools features a 5K run/walk and a 100-yard dash in Chilhowee Park and a one-mile family fun walk inside the Knoxville Zoo. The event includes fun for the whole family, with music, refreshments, vendor booths and prizes. All participants even receive a complementary day at the Knoxville Zoo following the race.

Day-of registration for the race is 6:30-8 a.m. The 5K run/walk begins at 8 a.m., winding through Chilhowee Park and down Linden Avenue; the one-mile family fun walk begins at 8:15 a.m. After awards are presented at 8:45 a.m., the fun-filled morning will conclude with the 100-yard dash at 9:30 a.m.

Kristina Canan, Marketing Specialist with the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union and Race Director for Run for the Schools, says that, even though the race has already become the third largest race in Knoxville, it is still really young, and “as we move forward you will see more and more connections between Run for the Schools and local health education initiatives.

Proceeds for the Rusty Wallace Honda Run for the Schools benefit local public and private schools in East Tennessee. Students, their families and community members can run for a specific school to raise funds. Schools raise money based on participation in the race, so the more runners for a school, the more money the school receives! Last year, Run for the Schools gave back more than $9,000 back to participating schools in the region.

“We want to encourage a healthy lifestyle for East Tennessee students and their families all while helping students raise money for their own schools,” race director Kristina Howard said. “Our goal is to bring schools and their communities together. We want to engage local communities to support their schools.”
Pre-registration is through February 22; Students are $10, adults are $20, and children age 2 and under are free.  Registration after February 22 is $15 for students and $25 for adults.

For more information or to register for the Rusty Wallace Honda Run for the Schools, visit: http://runfortheschools.org.

Additional information provided by Kristina Howard, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union Marketing Specialist