Runners and walkers will follow two separate courses. Runners will cross the Saluda River Bridge into the Botanical Garden, return over the bridge and complete the final stretch which takes them around the outer perimeter of the Zoo. The walkers will complete three laps within the Zoo taking in all the excitement along the way. Both groups will begin and end their respective courses in the Riverbanks parking lot.

Last year, more than 700 people participated in the 5K Run and Walk, nearly doubling the numbers from 2006. Because of the strong community support, more than forty thousand dollars was raised for the Meals On Wheels program, marking the event a great success.

The race will kick off at 7:30am and check-in begins at 6:15am. The cost of registration is $20 for adult runners, $15 for adult walkers and $10 for children 12 and younger until February 15. Those registering after February 15 will pay $25 to run and $20 to walk. On the day of the race, the registration fee increases to $30 for both runners and walkers. Registration fees include a T-shirt and a one-day pass to the Zoo. T-shirts are guaranteed if you register by February 15. Participants registering after February 15, will receive a T-shirt on a first-come, first-served basis.

Individuals interested in participating are encouraged to register early to receive the discount rate and to be guaranteed a T-shirt. For more information or to register for the race contact Senior Resources at 803.252.7734 or http://www.seniorresourcesinc.org/.

Riverbanks hopes that racers and their families will use their one-day pass and hop on over to the Zoo following the race as we kick-off our Year of the Frog initiatives. Kids can leap into the Zoo for a day jam-packed with froggy fun, toad-ally cool keeper talks and amphibian encounters.