“Happy Hour” Race Matches Women with Champagne
Cary, NC – This Thursday, Booth Amphitheatre is hosting the fourth Gildan Esprit de She 5K and 10K, a yearly race for women. It’s a classy race, with an evening start time, massages and champagne at the finish line.
Creating New Athletes
Gildan Esprit de She are a series of races for women in thirteen cities across the U.S. Series founder Lindsey Sachs said part of the goal is to get women to see themselves as athletes.
“The make-up of races around the country are more than 50 percent women,” Sachs said. “The fitness component of these events is about helping women realize their potential and find a community of like-minded individuals.”
For this year’s race in Cary is on Thursday, May 12, 2016, Sachs said 20 percent of the participants will be first-time runners in the series.
Also, fitting into this year’s theme of “Be Your Potential,” the Gildan Esprit de She will have 36 runners from the Life Time Kids Run Program, which coaches and trains children from 3rd grade to 8th grade. This year’s 5K at Booth Amphitheatre will be the first race for the girls in that program, which is also part of Girls on the Run of the Triangle.
“Girls on the Run builds confidence and leadership skills,” Sachs said. “We try to develop everything: mind, body and spirit.”
Boys who participate in the Life Time Kids Run Program will have their first race later in the summer but will be at Thursday’s event to cheer on their female peers.
Evening Race, Massages & Champagne
For newcomers to the Gildan Esprit de She races, there are some key differences between this race and most others. For starters, the race begins at 7 PM on a weekday but there is also a “Panasonic Beauty Bar” with complimentary massage, manicures and hair styling and a “Bubbly Bar” with wine and champagne for all competitors after the race.
“Women spend the day working and this gives them both social time and exercise,” Sachs said.
Festivities at the race start at 4:30 PM with a market that is part of the Life Style brand and a Zumba warm-up before the 5K and 10K races begin at 7 PM. There is also food from local La Farm Bakery and live jazz music from Raleigh band Mint Julep.
“It’s all a way to let the runners celebrate the accomplishment,” Sachs said. “Women come with coworkers, friends and family.”
Event Details
Gildan Esprit de She 5K & 10K
Thursday, May 12, 2016 – 7 PM
Register
Story by Michael Papich. Photos courtesy of Erin Berard.
