Running is not just a form of exercise in Auburn.
It is also one of the community's most popular forms of fundraising for organizations around Auburn.
Alvin Walls, president of the Auburn-Opelika Running and Track Association, argues the activity is used for fundraising even more often than for physical fitness.
"It's kind of primarily more about raising money than it is about running," he said.
Despite the motive for running, participants in the races tend to be people who enjoy both the competition and exercise involved with running in any 5K race.
"We're a group of runners and walkers and some people that are just interested in health, and we're trying to promote health and running," Walls said.
AORTA organizes a number of its own races for charity and provides finish-line results for a fee at events held by other organizations.
Walls said he has seen the events benefit a variety of causes, including cancer research, the East Alabama Food Bank, relief efforts in Haiti and efforts against domestic abuse and international injustice.
Races are so frequent that from week to week, they often overlap.
"One Saturday last spring, there were six 5K races within 15 miles of Auburn," Walls said.
The popularity of races as opposed to other forms of fundraising is attributed to several different causes.
Meha Jha, director of the Student Government Association's Fall 5K, which was held Oct. 17 to benefit Plainsman in Action for Wounded Soldiers, said the races are popular because they are easy to organize.
"I think the reason why 5K runs are successful, they're really not as difficult to plan," she said. "I think it's something that can be put together."
Walls, however, disagreed.
"It is not an easy fundraiser," he said. "There's work involved in it. There are sponsorships."
According to Walls, the greatest challenge he faces in planning a race is having to set a date and time that works for the majority of racers.
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