The second annual Run Into Summer 5K begins Saturday, May 9, at 8 a.m. at The Fitness Parlor with the Garrett Braun Foundation selected as its benefactor and timing provided by Split Second Timing of Waynesville.

Registration remains open, with participants able to sign up in advance or the morning of the event that runs along L&D Drive to the industrial park and through the sports complex.

The sponsored event features two laps with medal-winning categories for overall, men’s and women’s placements, and participants receiving a badge that tracks their time from start to finish. After completing the run, refreshments will be provided.

Gym owner Ryan Wilson expects a good turnout with 73 individuals registered as of Monday for the competitive portion — one more than the prior year’s total of 72.

Last year, Chase Crosby took first place overall with a record time of 22 minutes and 27 seconds and Kayla Olson took second place overall with a time of 24 minutes and 25 seconds.

Children under age 12 and their parents are invited to take part in a fun walk afterwards on the same track. The Garrett Braun Foundation was recommended by local teacher Tyler Ahring.

“We’re always trying to find a good local charity that is going to benefit someone in the community,” Wilson said.

Wilson shared that the 5K provides people who aren’t into lifting on a regular basis another outlet to still stay active with a total of 55-percent of the registered participants being members of the gym. The 5K draws people from outside of the community as well.

The event follows one of two annual eight-week weight loss challenges — one held in the spring before summer and one in the fall before the holiday season.

Wilson shared that events at the gym help give the community a variety of options they can participate in to be active and provide participants with a community to help keep one another motivated and accountable.

“Sometimes people need that group thing because when they’re doing it by themselves, it’s too easy to just give up,” he said.

The gym holds additional activities to help recognize members’ progress such as fun challenges with prizes around their July 1 anniversary and a monthly leaderboard for attendance.

“They’re in there every day working out and a lot of times they don’t usually get any recognition for it,” he said. “So this way we have a board (and) people get to see who has the most. It’s something to be proud of and it’s also a way for us to give back.”

The gym currently has on average 500 members and Wilson is adamant about making sure each one is greeted by name.

“Every day when you walk in, you’re going to get greeted by your name and we’re going to get to know you, and we’re going to try to help you any way we can,” Wilson said. “To be able to come here and have a place that they’re relieving their stress and it’s welcoming and friendly means so much to people because they’re going home to a stressful environment, they go to work to a stressful environment, this is their one environment that isn’t stressful.”

The Fitness Parlor continues to offer St. Louis-based First Phorm and Axe & Sledge products, monthly visits from The Drip Mobile IV, InBody Body Composition Analyzer access, daily fitness classes including twice weekly iterations of Silver Sneakers, Spin and Fit Express as well as certified personal trainers in house. Discounts are offered to senior citizens, youth athletes, first responders, teachers, and city workers.