In January, Mayor Breea Clark announced the Move with the Mayor initiative to encourage healthy exercise habits while highlighting city parks and facilities available to Norman residents. Every fourth Saturday from February to October, Norman residents have been invited to participate in a new activity at a new location. The mission is to get Normanites moving and exercising and highlight the excellent facilities and parks available to residents. Many are new, like Ruby Grant Park, and others are hidden gems like Legacy Trail. Norman is a proud participant in both the Move with the Mayor national campaign and the Active People, Healthy Nation initiative.

"As an amateur runner who enjoys a 5K, I am beyond excited that we will be able to incorporate the first scheduled 5K at our new Ruby Grant Park into this year's Move with the Mayor series. All ages are welcome, and those who prefer to walk are welcome to join us," said Mayor Clark. "Thanks to the hard work and generosity of Outside Oklahoma Events, Norman Parks & Recreation, Norman Regional Hospital System, and many more community partners, this will be a fun community event that will focus on the health and wellness of our residents. It is free to participate, but we are also excited to offer a paid option that comes with a timed race, a t-shirt, and a race medal to the first 50 that register!"

We continue the monthly Move with the Mayor series with a 5k run at Ruby Grant Park on October 2 at 9:00 am. It is free to participate, but thanks to Oklahoma Outside Events, we will have a timed option that comes with a t-shirt for $25 if you register before September 20. The first 50 people to register also get a commemorative City of Norman Race Medal. 

Register to participate at https://runsignup.com/Race/OK/Norman/RunWiththeMayor5k.

In addition to our race, we will have Beanstalk coffee, high-energy music from Nexus Productions, and participants are encouraged to hang out and enjoy the park, snacks, and community.

Norman Regional Health System will provide the Ortho Central trailer that will be on-site to check runners and walkers for shin splints and cramps from one of our Sports Medicine professionals. Disposable nausea bags will be provided for runners as well. Throughout the course, signs with inspirational messages will be provided to help give you that extra push to the finish line! One lucky race participant will win a free heart scan courtesy of Norman Regional Health System.

As our last Move with the Mayor event, we look forward to tennis instruction from our qualified staff on October 23 at the Westwood Tennis Center. 

For more information about the Move with the Mayor 5k, please call 405-366-5472 or email ParksRec@NormanOK.gov.