Nov 11, 2002 By April Straughters 3 min read

Think you have enough stamina to participate in California University’s two-day run/walk? Chances are you do.

The two-day walk/run, sponsored by the university’s sport management club, is only a 1.2-mile race and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. But the race begins five minutes before midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and ends five minutes after midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

“Technically it is a two-day race,” said Dr. Roy Yarbrough, director of sport management.

Yarbrough said the race will be the best in which anyone’s ever participated.

“It’s the best 10 minutes of your life,” Yarbrough said. “Some people come early and stretch out, other’s want to walk. We give an award to the person who finishes in last place. It’s a fun event.”

Yarbrough said 110 people have already entered the race, and entry forms are still available at Hamer Hall Room 234 or by calling 724-938-4356. He said entry forms will be available before the race. He said he especially wants people from the community to participate.

“We have a good time. There is an after-party. We have prizes and all entries receive T-shirts,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough said this is the third year for the two-day run. He said he holds the event as part of his senior-level sports marketing class.

“The students do all the planning, marketing and promotions. We start from scratch every year. This gives them an idea of how to actually run an event. They have to get out there and talk to people, sell products and that makes it real for them,” Yarbrough said.

Yarbrough, an officer with the U.S. Coast Guard, said he got the idea for the two-day race from one he had seen in Alaska while he was helping with the Exxon Valdez oil spill at Kodiak Island as part of his duties with the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Over 5,000 people showed up for that. It took place during the midnight hours, but of course, the sun never went down. It was something to see,” he said.

Yarbrough said awards will be given for the first place male and female finisher in each division. Separate awards will also be given to the top group finisher.

The divisions are: freshmen, sophomore, junior, seniors, graduate student, faculty, staff and California area residents. Fraternities and sororities are entered in the team division. However, each team member must register individually, with a limit of five per team.

Race check-in will be from 10:45 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. Racers will assigned a number that they are expected to wear on the front of their shirts.

There is a $10 entry fee, which covers the prices of the T-shirt that all participants will receive. Entries will be accepted the day of the race.

For more information, contact Yarbrough at Yarbrough@cup.edu or 724-938-4356.