An upcoming race in Opelika is giving participants a new, unique way to connect with others.The annual Two by Two Unity Run/Walk/Wheel Event is sponsored by Envision Opelika and will take place Saturday, April 6.
During the race, participants can choose to be linked to a partner at the wrist and are encouraged to partner with someone of a different background or descent.
"The objective is to have different cultural backgrounds get to know each other and spend time together and to make friendships with people of different diversities," said Tom Tippett, chairman of the Envision Opelika Character Council.
The Unity Race includes a 5K and a 1-mile run, with discounted registration to participants who choose to run linked with a partner.
The 1-mile run begins at 8 a.m. and the 5K begins at 8:30 a.m. Both start at the Park Road parking lot in Opelika.
Proceeds from the run benefit the Character Council, which works to promote excellence and character in the Opelika area, according to Tippett.
The Character Council is part of a larger organization, Envision Opelika.
"Envision Opelika is a citizen driven organization," said Barbara Patton, director of Envision Opelika. "It's focusing on citizens and what they wanted to see happen in the city of Opelika."
Since its creation, Envision Opelika has partnered with many other organizations in Opelika, such as Keep Opelika Beautiful, which works to promote recycling and beautification and preventing littering, and Opelika Main Street, which has worked to revitalize Opelika's downtown Historic District.
For the past three years, the Unity Race has also partnered with Opelika Middle School and its physical education program.
Students participate in the President's Physical Fitness Program and run one mile each week for 25 weeks.
As part of the partnership, the students run the Unity race's 1-mile run for their last mile of the program.
"We're probably having 50 to 60 students that are participating in that," Tippett said. "That's relatively small, but we're still going to persist and grow that number over the years."
Although students at Auburn University may be used to seeing people from different cultures and backgrounds all over campus, the diversity in Opelika is a different, Tippett said.
"Opelika has had a history of being homogeneous," Tippett said. "Now Opelika is becoming more culturally diversified, so it's (the Unity Race) an attempt to bring an awareness about our cultural diversity."
Over the past four years, the race has had an average of 75 to 100 participants, according to Tippett.
Because of the wide range of diversity found on Auburn's campus, Tippett said he would like more students from the University to participate in the race.
Additionally, Tippett said the money raised provides more opportunities for more projects and partnerships the Character Council could take part in.
Allan Mudwilder, junior in business management, is planning on running the 5K portion of the Unity Race with a few of his friends.
Mudwilder has run other 5K races in the area and says that he and his friends look for races they can all run in together.
"I didn't know when it was, but I was interested in doing it," Mudwilder said. "I've been talking to my friends to see if they were 100 percent on doing it, and then we're probably going to do the pair (running with a partner)."
Those interested in participating in the race can pre-register online at bigdogrunning.com. Registration is also open on the day of the race.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
