Come Run 'In My Boots' 5k April 18, Boone, Iowa

A second annual"In My Boots" 5k run, walk, or ruck march will be conducted by faculty, staff, and students of Des Moines Area Community College's (DMACC), Boone, Iowa campus Sat., April 18, 2015.

The event location will again be McHose Park in Boone. Registration fees are:

• Individual: $25; $30 after April 3 (T-shirt not guaranteed after April 3)

• 4-person ruck team (current/retired military): $80

• 4-person ruck team (civilian): $100

Proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. At the event, food and clothing donations will also be collected for area homeless shelters. Through last year's event, approximately 250 participants raised more than $5,500 for the charity, and more than 60 duffel bags of non-perishable food items for area homeless veterans.

Participants will receive T-shirts and goodie bags. Medals will be awarded by age groups, as well as overall male, female, and team.

Sponsorships are also available for interested businesses, organizations, families, and individuals, starting at $100. Sponsor names will appear on T-shirts and other race materials.

The official DMACC welcome page for the event, including link to on-line registration, is here.

A Facebook page for the event is here.

A downloadable poster for the event is here.

The event will include:

5K run/walk/ruck: The 5K will be a loop around McHose Park in Boone, Iowa. Participants can choose to bring their own ruck sack or backpack, preloaded with up to 30 lbs. of nonperishable food and clothing items that will be donated to local veterans after the event. (A military ruck consists of carrying a pack weighing around 30 pounds at an alternating run and walk pace for about 5km to 15km. It is part of soldier basic training and a standard test of soldier endurance.) 

Shadow Run: A shadow run with soldiers from units around the world will be held in conjunction with our event. Join "Team Taylor" to run with Capt. Sean Taylor, a DMACC/Boone Professor, who is currently deployed to the Middle East.

Ruck Competition: Current military members and veterans can participate in a team ruck-march competition. Each team will consist of 4 members carrying packs weighing at least 30 pounds. The first complete team to cross the finish line together will be awarded the "In My Boots-Team Ruck-March" award and have bragging rights throughout the year.  B.Y.O.R.

To donate on-line directly to the Wounded Warrior Project in the name of the "In My Boots" event, click here.

For more information about the event, including sponsorships, contact:

• Julie Roosa, 515.433.5215; jkroosa AT dmacc.edu

• Nancy Woods, 515.433.5061; nawoods AT dmacc.edu

The institution's faculty, staff, and students have a history of supporting military and veterans issues, including the 2012 theatrical production of "Telling: Des Moines." Approximately 650 DMACC students are military veterans and beneficiaries using G.I. Bill benefits.

Des Moines Area Community College, a public institution serving the educational and career training needs of Iowans, is committed to the lifelong success of its students. As Iowa’s largest two-year college, DMACC offers 150 programs, certificates and transfer degrees, annually serving more than 75,000 credit and noncredit students on six campuses and in five learning centers. Thanks to college-wide innovation, new programs and affordable tuition, DMACC has experienced record growth and today is the 15th fastest growing two-year college in America.

For more information on DMACC, click here.