GO! St. Louis Youth & Family Track Meet Series
In an on-going effort to create programs and events which inspire our community to get fit, GO! St. Louis introduces the first annual Youth & Family Track Meet Series. The track series is a non-competitive six-week program for students, K-8 and their family members. The summer program introduces participants each week to a different track & field event, such as: sprint, middle distance, field and relay events. The program starts on June 10 at 5:30 pm at Parkway North High School and the cost is $12 for the entire six-week series. Participants will receive a special event shirt and refreshments.
DETAILED INFORMATION & REGISTRATION HERE.
The Youth & Family Track Meet Series was created to help inspire families to find new and interesting ways to make fitness part of their lives, while spending quality time together. Additionally, GO! St. Louis continues to help in the fight against the rising rate of obesity in the U.S. by creating new events and programs.

GO! and Trailnet to Host Series of Free Walks
GO! has partnered with Trailnet to host a series of nine walks throughout the region, beginning in early April. Walking is the top participation sport in the world and it requires no special equipment; expect a good pair of shoes. These walks are a great way to burns some calories, enjoy the environment and make some new friends at the same time. So, make plans to join GO! and Trailnet for the 2008 walking events. Get the complete walking schedule here.

Karl Gilpin Wins 2008 GO! St. Louis Marathon, Establishes a New Course Record
ST. LOUIS, MO— The 2008 GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend concluded today with the Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay events. More than 13,000 people participated in the eighth annual event. Karl Gilpin from Russellville, MO was the overall male marathon winner, establishing a new course record in the process. Gilpin, 29, completed the 26.2 scenic course in a time of 2:24:51, breaking DanielMaurer’s 2006 record of 2:25:09. Gilpin’s win marked the second consecutive year that he has won the GO! St. Louis marathon. He won the 2007 race with a time of 2:28:59. On the woman’s side, Tara Keller (pictured above), 33, from Hilliard, OH finished first with a time of 3:07:26.
In the Half Marathon race, presented by National City, Mathew Chesang (pictured right), 26, from Olathe, KS, won with a new course record of 1:08:20, eclipsing Zac Freudenburg’s 2006 record of 1:08:36. The win was Chesang’s second in a row, as he finished first in 2007 with a 1:09:02 mark. The top woman in the Half Marathon was Kelly Handel with a time of 1:20:13. For more recaps of today's events CLICK HERE.

GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Day Attracts 5,000 to Forest Park
JUSTIN KUNZ WINS 5K RUN/WALK
Participants ranging from toddlers to 90-year-olds enjoyed a day of fitness in Forest Park, as the GO! St. Louis Family Fitness Weekend® kicked-off its eighth year.
More than 5,000 people participated in six events including the Diaper Dash, Children’s Fun Runs, Read, Right & Run Marathon®, 5K Run/Walk and the Mature Mile. Medals were awarded to all participants.
Justin Kunz, 22 from Lebanon, IL was the overall winner of the 5K Run. Kunz is a member of the St. Louis-based Big River Running Racing Team and finished with a time of 15:10, which established a new event record. Kunz eclipsed Chris Wallaert’s 2000 record time of 15:52. On the women’s side, 14-year-old Johanna Moeller from Fenton, MO finished first with a time of 22:44.
In the Master’s Division, Bruce Nie completed the 5K course in 17:44 to finish first, while Kelli Magre from Festus, MO was the woman’s top Master finisher with a time of 23:49.
Click HERE for the Full Story.
Click HERE for the Full Results.

 

My Story: Leslie Riordan, Age 14
My name is Leslie Riordan and I am 14 years old. I have Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy. It is a very painful condition and I have a very aggressive form of it. Something just as simple a washing my hands is painful and so is exercise. There is no cure but intense exercise is the treatment that will put it into remission. Through my training for this half-marathon, I admittedly had days were I just wanted to give up and just get a walker or a wheelchair until I could get treated. I never did though because of this half-marathon. It gave me a goal and a reason to keep working hard and learn how to work through the pain. April 6th showed me and others living with this that it can be done and we don't have to let our condition stop us from our goals. Leslie ended up 5th in her age group!
Read more inspiring stories HERE.

Interested in telling your story and have it featured on the website?
E-mail us at: mystory@gostlouis.org!