When employees at the Republic Parks and Recreation Department realized they’d be shutting down their usual programming to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, they began talking about possible alternatives. Their biggest idea from that conversation so far is getting even bigger.
The RunRepMO 2020 Challenge is a virtual run to encourage people to stay active while maintaining the recommended distance from others. Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Jennafer Mayfield said she expected 75-100 people to sign up during the three-day online registration period. Instead, about 360 registered.
Enthusiasm has remained so high that the department has decided to reopen registration through Wednesday at midnight.
“It was awesome. We’re so excited to see it, and we’re already getting tons of people using the hashtag ‘#runrepmo’ from their shirts,” Mayfield said. “Even over the weekend, we were still getting inquiries. We decided to open it back up those that didn’t get in, to give them an opportunity to register.”
The idea came from Athletic Coordinator Joanna Scott during one of the department’s conversations about keeping people connected. The event challenges people to run, walk, bike, or hike 20 miles in 20 days. There are other challenge levels of 40 miles and 60 miles. But the mileage goal isn’t the primary focus of the event, according to Mayfield.
“However you can get out and stay active during this time, we’re encouraging that,” she said.
Mayfield said the department is mindful of health guidelines, and its publicity about the event has stressed those.
“We didn’t want to promote everybody to go to a specific park or log all of their miles in one of our parks. People can utilize parks and trails that are open, or their neighborhoods,” she said. “We have stressed still practicing social distancing. If you encounter someone on a trail, move to the side. Maintain the six-feet . Complete this individually or with members of your household you’re living with currently.”
Parks employees delivered t-shirts to registered participants late last week, and new registrants will get shirts as soon as they’re available – probably late next week. All deliveries are done without making contact with recipients.
Mayfield said she and other parks employees have been gratified to see so many people participating in the event.
“It’s awesome. You never know what’s going to take hold and what people are going to respond to, but this has really taken off. We have people as young as two years old and as old as 82 participating,” she said. “Seeing everyone of all ages, seeing the pictures that came in over the weekend, we love seeing those. We are just so pumped to see all of the pictures that are already coming in.”
The new round of registration runs through midnight Wednesday. You can sign up here.