IDAHO NATIONAL
Idaho
Transportation |
From Sonna Lynn Fernandez The celebration was founded to inspire healthy attitudes in participants so that it reaches their families and communities. Every September thousands of women and girls line up in downtown Boise to experience Celebration camaraderie in a very supportive environment. Whether they are grandmothers or girl scouts, elite runners or stroller moms, they all compete on the same course, on the same day. Now in its 14th year, the celebration has inspired thousands of participants to continue to exercise throughout the year. On Sept. 23, the inspiration will continue when women and girls from throughout Idaho and the U.S. line up at the start line in downtown Boise to celebrate for their own reasons. In addition to those that participate for fun and companionship, the event also attracts an elite field of competitive runners, race-walkers and wheelchair athletes from Idaho and around the country. This impressive field of elite athletes includes wheelchair athlete Candace Cable who has six Boston Marathon wheelchair championships and Louise Sauvage who is the two-time International Female Wheelchair Athlete of the Year. The list of past run winners includes Amy Yoder-Begley, Elva Dryer, Boise native Cori Mooney, and Libbie Hickman. They bring to the event an opportunity to see and meet world-class athletes and see how they perform and compete. For many of the elite athletes it is the chance to help deliver a positive message of inspiration for health and well-being to participants, their families and communities. Sonna Lynn Fernandez will be the ITD's team captain for the celebration. Pauline Davis, wellness coordinator, and Fernandez encourage women at ITD to sign up to be on the transportation department's team. For all those who sign-up there will be an added bonus. On Sept. 21-22 there will be a women's show at the Boise Centre on the Grove, 850 Front St. (Corner of 9th and Front streets). It is free and open to the public, even for those not signed up to participate in the run/walk/stroll. Live entertainment, cooking demonstrations and special vendor deals are planned as part of the show. Those who sign up for the run/walk/stroll can pick up event T-shirts and participant number at the show. To sign up, contact Fernandez at 332-7823 or simply register online at http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1306110&action=ct Click on "team registration" and pick Idaho Transportation Department as the team choice. The deadline for online registration is Sept. 8. Fernandez can provide registration forms for those who prefer. Published 8-25-08 |