What in the world is an AnyWhere AnyWay 5K?! Well, if you are a person who would love to walk or run a 5K but maybe the pressure just gets too much or the time of the race scheduled just doesn’t work in your schedule, this might be the thing for you. Who knows, you might be part of the many knee pain sufferers who are fine walking or running on a rubber track, treadmill or trail, but not on the streets. Also called a “virtual 5K” (and no, you don’t sit there and watch someone else run a 5K), this AnyWhere AnyWay is a 5K that you do wherever your heart (or body) desires!

This is our first annual AnyWhere AnyWay 5K where people can sign up online at www.sportoften.com or www.rowanymca.org or get a form and return it to the YMCA of Rowan County at 215 Guffy Street, Salisbury, NC 28146. It’s only $15 and everyone receives a cool shirt and medal. If you want your medal mailed to you, please add another $5 to your fee for postage.

Between March 5 through March 11, you would need to walk, run (or crawl…) a 5K on your favorite course, a treadmill, or on a YMCA or school track — anywhere, anyway! You need to track your 5K with your phone, your watch or any other electronic device and take a picture of your time (for proof). We love to receive selfies with your time! Please email it to ffarmer@rowanymca.org .

Not only will you feel awesome for participating and finishing this 5K, this AnyWhere AnyWay 5K is kicking off our 2018 annual campaign where we raise money where all the proceeds go to our youth, individuals, families and seniors in financial need. The YMCA will never turn anyone away due to the inability to pay. The YMCA provides a safe and healthy place where we focus on our core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith through awesome programs such as water exercise classes, land exercise classes, basketball, pickle ball, soccer and swimming, just to name a few.

Personally, I have been with the Salisbury Y, now the JF Hurley Family YMCA, almost 22 years and I have experienced so many awesome things through our ability to help the individuals and families in need. I am very proud to be part of such a great organization. I hope you consider doing this, not only for you feeling good, but you are also helping others. You can do this all by yourself or maybe you get some friends talked into joining and you meet at Salisbury Community Park where you can walk or run the beautiful trails. Dan Nicolas has scenic, well-marked trails which can be used and of course your own treadmill or ours will tell you exactly how far you have gone.

Whether you have a bucket list item you need to mark off, always wanted to do a 5K or want to help this awesome cause, this is the 5K for you! We thank our sponsors and supporters: Novant Health, Cheerwine, Salisbury Rowan Runners, United Way and our own Rowan County YMCA.

AnyWhere AnyWay 5K! I am going to do it and I hope you will too!

Ester Marsh is health & fitness director of the JF Hurley Family and is trying to get a community to move together to help others.