CrossFit athletes chip in

Published 3:14 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Members of Selma Crossfit donated numerous food items to the Christian Outreach Alliance Food Pantry as part of their support of the Reindeer Romp 5K and 1-mile fun run. Shown race coordinator Bill Potter (far left) are Crossfit members (front row from left) Taylor Namburo, Jill Wilkinson, Colby Whitaker, Cathy Sanders, Lisa Weber, Robin Woodson, Mary Hansell, Chelsea Chamberlain, Darien Arrington, Tommy Weber and Valerie Chittom; back row from left, Potter, George Yocum, Louis McMilion, Rick Willams, Blaze Malone, James Osborne, Mark Woodson, Megan Crane, James Roberts and Reid McMilion. (Dennis Palmer / Times-Journal)

Members of Selma Crossfit donated numerous food items to the Christian Outreach Alliance Food Pantry as part of their support of the Reindeer Romp 5K and 1-mile fun run. Shown race coordinator Bill Potter (far left) are Crossfit members (front row from left) Taylor Namburo, Jill Wilkinson, Colby Whitaker, Cathy Sanders, Lisa Weber, Robin Woodson, Mary Hansell, Chelsea Chamberlain, Darien Arrington, Tommy Weber and Valerie Chittom; back row from left, Potter, George Yocum, Louis McMilion, Rick Willams, Blaze Malone, James Osborne, Mark Woodson, Megan Crane, James Roberts and Reid McMilion. (Dennis Palmer / Times-Journal)

The 3rd annual Reindeer Romp 5K and 1-mile fun run, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, is drawing a lot of local interest, including one group that is not only fielding a team of runners but donated stacks of food to the event’s beneficiary — the Christian Outreach Alliance Food Pantry.

Selma Crossfit, a local gym started by Dr. Louis McMilion, took on the project as a way to have fun and promote a healthy lifestyle, and also give back to the community. Each member was challenged to donate 24-cans of food to the effort. Members who didn’t meet the challenge would have to “suffer the consequences” by doing 240 burpees (or squat thrusts).

“We were in The Coffee Shoppe having coffee and Mr. Bill (Potter) came in with some of the flyers to put out and me, Robin (Woodson) and Chelsea (Chamberlain) started talking about what we could do,” Selma Crossfit member Darien Arrington said. “I mean, who wants to do a burpee!?”

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Potter, who himself runs about 5-miles each day, six days a week, is one of the race coordinators, and said this year’s event is setting up nicely.

“We’ve gotten great local support; more this year than in year’s past,” Potter said. “The Crossfit folks have definitely given us a spark.”

Registration for the Reindeer Romp can be done at the YMCA or at Vaughan Wellness and Fitness Center on Medical Center Parkway. Race day registration is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The 5K scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the pavilion at Bloch Park on Marina Drive. The registration fee is $10 for 14-years-old and under, $15 for 15-years-old and older. Race Day registration for an adult is $20. Shirts are available for the first 50 registrants, based on sizes available.

Medals will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers and age group winners. There will also be prizes for runners with the best holiday outfit and for prediction run winner.

For more information contact Potter at 875-9065 or by email: bpotter4u@aol.com. For information on the Christian Outreach Alliance Food Pantry contact COA at 872-6904.