COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Hosted by the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation and presented by Reliant Bank, the annual Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot will take place Saturday, October 23, at Riverwalk Park in Columbia.
“The Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot is traditionally part of Columbia’s annual Mule Day celebration; however, like much of the rest of the world, we’re doing things a little different this year,” said Foundation Executive Director Joe Kilgore. “We are excited to bring back this annual and beloved race that provides support for the Maury Regional Health mobile medical unit, which provides important health care services — including COVID-19 vaccination — for at-risk patients in rural and underserved areas.”
On Saturday, October 23, the course will begin at Riverwalk Park next to Riverside Elementary with an 8 a.m. start time for the 5K and a 9:15 a.m. start time for the 1-Mile Trot. Both runners and walkers are encouraged to participate.
Interested participants may register online at MuleKick5K.com. The cost to participate in the 5K is $30 per runner for those who register prior to October 17 and $35 per runner for those who register after October 17, while the 1-Mile Trot is $15 per person. Those individuals who previously registered and paid to participate in the postponed 2020 race have been automatically registered to participate in the race on October 23 with no further action on their part required.
“When deciding to bring back the Mule Kick 5K this fall, our planning committee firmly agreed that ensuring the safety of all participants, volunteers and staff had to be our top priority,” Kilgore said. “Based on current CDC guidance and recommendations from our medical advisors, we have implemented several new safety measures for the 2021 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot that prioritize our racers’ health and wellbeing.”
Safety precautions for the 2021 race include:
- Masks are requested for all participants, volunteers and staff. Participants are asked to wear a face covering during all non-competition times, including packet pick-up as well as pre- and post-race at the start/finish line. Masks will be provided to anyone who would like one.
- Packet pick-up will take place during a convenient and socially distanced drive-through the evening prior to the race. Packets will be available for pick up via drive-through Friday, October 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Riverside Elementary School (203 Carter St, Columbia, TN 38401).
- The starting line will be staggered to allow for social distancing. Socially distanced markers will be placed at the starting line to allow racers to spread out and begin the race in smaller groups. Participants’ times begin and end when crossing the start and finish lines, respectively, so placement in the line will not affect final times.
- Spectators are encouraged to watch from homes or their vehicles rather than in person at the park. For those who wish to watch friends or family members competing in the race, the start/finish line will be streamed live at Facebook.com/MuleKick5K.
- There will not be an in-person awards ceremony following the race. After completing the 5K and/or 1-Mile Trot, we ask participants not to linger at the finish line or in the park. Instead of the traditional in-person awards ceremony, results will be streamed later in the day at Facebook.com/MuleKick5K and awards will be mailed to the winners the following week.
Race officials will continue to monitor and assess the state of COVID-19 in the region in the days leading up the race. Any changes will be communicated to participants via email and social media channels.
Proceeds from the 2021 Mule Kick 5K & 1-Mile Trot will provide funding for Maury Regional Health’s mobile medical unit as well as the Foundation’s Wellness and Aquatics Center Healthy Living Endowment and to the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. The school in Maury County with the most participation in the event overall will also receive a donation to their P.E. program from the Foundation.
Sponsors for the 5K to date include Reliant Bank as the presenting sponsor and champion sponsors Maury Regional Health, A-1 Concrete Leveling & Foundation Repair, Farm Bureau Health Plans and Winning Moves. The finish line sponsor is Roberts Toyota, with Brown & Maguire serving as the hydration sponsor. Trainer sponsors include Columbia Power & Water Systems, Faded Farmhouse, Lee Company, Maury County Visitors Bureau, Maury Regional Medical Group, Mid-Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic and Stan McNabb of Columbia. Patron sponsors include Ascend Federal Credit Union, Beck Dental Care, Columbia Pediatrics, DB’s, Duck River Electric Corporation, Ford Lincoln of Columbia, Greg Lemon, CPA, PLLC, Jones & Lang, KFC, Listerhill Credit Union, Lucas Orthodontic Group, McEwen Group, Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center, MuleTown Rec, Pinewood Springs, Preventia, Redman-Davis Insurance, Smelter, Sonic, Southern Exposure, Southern Radiology Associates, Tenn Pin Alley and Vanderbilt Center for Women’s Health.
To learn more about the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation or to make a direct gift to the mobile medical unit fund, visit MauryRegional.com/Foundation. For additional information about the race or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Foundation at 931.380.4075.