Rhythm Run back for second edition

Published 10:42 am Thursday, April 14, 2016

The DiamondJacks’ Rhythm Run 5K is back for a second episode of music and exercise.

As part of the 29th Annual RiverFest Music and Arts Festival held Saturday, the run serves as a healthy, familial extension of the weekend’s activities. Approximately 100 runners have signed up for the event, which kicks off at 8 a.m. on the corner of Crawford and Adams Streets. Nearly 200 people participated in its inaugural edition last year.

Registration is ongoing, and a sign-up session will take place at DiamondJacks Hotel and Casino Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. The registration fee is $25. In addition to the 5K run, a race walk of the same distance and a 1-mile fun run are offered.

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DiamondJacks sponsored the 5K as a benefit for the community and Alesia Shaw, director of marketing, said it helps make it a great weekend for those who travel to Vicksburg and residents of the city.

“We at DiamondJacks had an initiative of being healthy. I reached to (the RiverFest Board) to see if they wanted to add a run. They were all for it,” Shaw said.

Shaw added that most of the volunteers working the event Saturday are employees of the casino.

Runners who participated in last year’s 5K race will notice a change in scenery, as the route has been modified.

The new route will go down Cherry Street to Chambers Street, through Vicklan Circle and back out to Cherry Street to Belmont Street, leading into Washington Street. Runners will take Washington Street up to the festival grounds.

“Last year we had it going up East Avenue and that hill was not good for a lot of people so we have changed it just a little bit,” said Rhythm Run coordinator Angie Wilkinson. “We have a running group here in Vicksburg that has graciously gone out there and mapped it out for us and done the race itself so they know how hard it is or easy it is for those that want to try it.”

Wilkinson used to be involved with the Over the River Run and from her experience she feels weather won’t deter people from participating. It’s been rainy all week, but the forecast calls for cloudy skies with temperatures in the 60s at race time.

Wilkinson said the inaugural run was a success, and the plan is to build on and better it.

“We have a lot of people that wanted to participate in it and donate to it,” Wilkinson said. “I do believe we’re going to have someone out there doing blood pressure checks. We’ve got cookies that have been donated from McAllister’s and they’re also putting coupons in their bags. We’re just trying to top last year’s and get more people to sign up.”