Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk

On the evening of Thursday, September 13, 2012, I participated in my very first 5K. If you know me, you should know that I’m probably the least athletic person you know. However, this has been a year of many changes for me and, as a result, I have begun exercising somewhat regularly. Thanks to the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/​Walk, I got a jumpstart on the road to a healthier and happier lifestyle.
I had previously heard of the run/​walk, but I didn’t know much about it other than the fact that it was a 5K (3.1 miles). As soon as I received the email from my company announcing that we’d be participating in the KP run/​walk, I knew I had to register for it. I had no excuse — especially since my employer was paying the $ 27 (early) registration fee. The fee for participants who registered late (within one month before the run/​walk date) was $ 35.
What’s awesome is that each registered participant was provided a pass for complimentary workouts at LA Fitness for approximately one month leading up to the race day. Additionally, there were free weekly group training run/​walks at Phidippides. Although I was unable to make it to any of the group training sessions, I definitely took advantage of the LA Fitness pass.
Honestly, I didn’t do a whole lot to prepare for the 5K, but I did try to go to LA Fitness at least three times a week leading up to it. I’m not a runner. In fact, I absolutely hate running. I don’t mind jogging and walking intermittently, and my main goal was to complete the 5K. I must admit, it wasn’t a difficult goal, but it was a big deal to me. Therefore, it was a comfort to know that many people (over 50%, in fact) are walkers.
The race was scheduled to begin at 7 pm, but there were various activities (such as music and team photos) going on starting at 3 pm. If you arrive at Turner Field before 4 pm, you *may* be able to park close by for $ 10. I HIGHLY recommend carpooling, too. Traffic was horrible, so my co-​workers and I noted that we must leave work at least an hour earlier next year. We arrived around 6:15 pm after leaving work (Buckhead) at 5 pm, and we had to park pretty far away (by a residential area). Additionally, we missed our company’s scheduled team photo (they’re right on time, and won’t re-​take it!). Boo.
In a nutshell, the race itself was such a great experience. It begins on Hank Aaron/​Fulton Street, right under the Olympic Rings, and heads downtown from there. The mere sight of the 16,000+ participants blew me away. It was an amazing feeling to be a part of this large group. As we jogged/​walked the square-​ish route, I enjoyed the views of downtown and the volunteers and Georgia State students cheering us on and taking photos of the participants. I took a bunch of pictures myself! I totally felt like a tourist, but I didn’t care.
There were two water stations during the race — the one near the 1^st mile and the other near the 2^nd mile. I thought it was crazy that everyone threw their paper cups on the ground after finishing their water, but I guess that’s the «norm.» I thought about how much it must suck for those who had to clean up afterwards. =P
Overall, the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/​Walk gets 4.5 stars for being incredibly well-​organized and, of course, the great, scenic 5K route in downtown Atlanta. The main reason why I knocked off ½ a star is the crappy parking situation, but I guess that’s downtown in general. All participants who completed the 5K got free commemorative T-​shirts (they actually had SMALL sizes!), bananas (as much as they could/​wanted to take), and bottle waters. When the race is over, companies who have tents provide dinner and there is live music as well. My first 5K experience was incredible, I definitely want to do it again next year, and I highly recommend it to others who are new to run/​walks!
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