Learning to jog while chained to another person can take a little getting used to. But those participating in next month’s Defiant Run will have to do just that and more.

To get participants prepared for the half-marathon scheduled for Oct. 4, Run organizer Frank Hardy held a practice session Saturday that began outside the Selma Mall.

Participants arrived with their jogging gear on, ready to try out a three-mile run/walk from the mall to Franklin Street, then on to Water Avenue and back.

Hardy, who is also director of the Selma Youth Development Center, said Saturday’s practice run not only helped participants get adjusted to being linked by chains, it also lets more Selmians be aware about the upcoming event.

The Run is a 13-mile race and obstacle course around Selma in which people will run in pairs and be linked by a plastic chain on their wrists.

Hardy is hoping the event will be an annual one for Selma and wants several members of the community to be involved, especially those who love to jog.

The event was created to show that people can accomplish more working together than apart, Hardy said.

A registration booth was set up at the mall for interested people to sign-up to participate in the Run.

A week prior to the Run, there will be reconciliation seminars and team-building exercises. Winners of the race will receive a trophy, gift package and cash donation to the charity of their choice.