.entry-date::after {content: ” by Val Niehaus”;} July 1, 2017 – Full Issue The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for this year’s Mish ko swen 5K event which was held at We Care in Carter, Wis. The sun was shining with blue skies and low humidity and most importantly, no rain! FCP Community Health and Employee Wellness always do a great job organizing this event for the community, and it is always a success. Participants began showing up for registration about 9:30 that morning with the 5K run scheduled to begin at 10:30. All ages participated in this event from babies in strollers, to toddlers, to the eldest. Normally, this event is a true 5K, which is the equivalent of 3.1 miles. However, due to a last minute change in venue, the run was about half a mile shorter than planned. Prior to starting the run, Steve Sekel, employee wellness program specialist/trainer, led the entire group in some stretching and heart-pumping warm- ups to get everyone’s muscles and joints warmed-up and loosened so they were in tip top shape before the run/walk began. This is a very important step before you do any kind of strenuous exercise routine, and it is key to minimizing injuries. Many participants took off in the first wave of runners since they were those who were being timed by Tortoise & Hare Race Timing out of Arbor Vitae. There was a mix of men, women and many youth participants who were interested in actually competing against the clock for this year’s event. In the male division, the top three racers in were Jason Spaude with a time of 17:22, Devon Martin with a time of 21:13 and Keanu Yazzie with a time of 21:39. The female top three racers clocked in were Shelley Spaude with a time of 19:59, Lexi Schallock with a time of 21:04 and Deanna Collins with a time of 22:14. Gregg Tallier did a fantastic job as always playing energetic music to keep the runners/walkers in high spirits. He also let everyone know what was happening throughout the entire event. His frequent announcements made sure that everyone knew the time of take-off, encouraged runners to stay hydrated, and offered other important healthy choice options that would be beneficial to everyone participating as well as those in their families. Another special treat was the presence of some of the elders from FCP Caring Place who came out to watch the runners/walkers on this beautiful day. Many thanks to Jason Townsend and Jenna Paradies for helping the elders get out and about on this gorgeous Saturday. The day was filled with smiles and determination to run/walk the 5K withome happy finishers. Everyone did a great job and the event itself was well organized. See everyone next time around!