Fitness® Mind, Body, Spirit Games - Event Gallery

September 12, 2009 [Results] [Local Gallery] [Men's Video] [Women's Video]

Cool weather, which followed a night of rain, didn’t dampen spirits at the eighth annual Fitness Mind, Body, Spirit Games. The event included separate men’s and women’s four-mile races, shorter kids’ races for youngsters ages 2–12, and many festival elements designed to keep the fun in fitness. What better way to spend Saturday morning in Central Park?
LA-based trainer Bob Harper led warm-up exercises for hundreds of participants.	Therapists offered mini-massages before and after the races.	The race was timed using the ChronoTrack system; NYRR volunteers provided support.	Thanks to cool, cloudy conditions, times in the men’s race were hot.
Runners find their stride in the opening mile.	Women could cheer on the men as they awaited their race’s start.	Bado Worku Merdessa broke the tape in 19:08.	Surprise! Olympian Kara Goucher, in NYC on business, inspired the women at the start.
The front line of the women’s race was a riot of color.	This happy runner shared the reason for her smile.	Fitness magazine promotes a fitness-based lifestyle to women of all ages and sizes.	Aziza Aliyu (#17) edged Katarina Janosikova for the win; both were timed in 22:22.
Kids’ races and other events for runners of all ages made this a family-friendly event.	The distances in the kids’ races were based on the participants’ ages.	Parents could assist their children as needed.	Every kid received a ribbon at the finish line.
WNBA players gave clinics and signed autographs at the Fitness Mind, Body, Spirit Lounge.	Runners could enter a raffle for a free trip to L.A.	Live music kept runners and spectators entertained throughout the morning.	Fitness editor-in-chief Betty Wong and actress Ana Ortiz presented a check to the Developing Artists Theater Company.