Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngs-town Marathon Foundation this month is offering a virtual 5K run.

“During an otherwise troubling time, our foundation wanted to provide hope and direction in regards to a healthy lifestyle. This includes both the mental and physical aspect and what better way to do that than with running,” said Joshua Boggs, Youngstown Marathon Board vice president.

The virtual race can be completed by anyone anywhere at anytime in April. Those who register will receive a link to share their results, which will be posted live this month with final results showing overall placing on May 1. Runners can participate on a treadmill, trail, track, road — anywhere they can safely run while maintaining proper social distancing.

Race leaders, however, remind participants they should not gather as a group to participate.

Register online from a link on the Youngstown Marathon’s website https://www.youngstownmarathon.com/six-feet-from-me-5k

The marathon’s marketing director, Crystal Siembida Boggs , added: “While brainstorming about the event, Josh and I both looked at each other and at the same time said we need to name the event Six Feet From Me Virtual 5k and then everything just started to fall into place.”

The virtual 5K is encouraging social distancing, health and wellness. It is free to participants.

“With people losing their jobs, we didn’t think it was right to charge for a virtual race. We also felt that runners who had something to give could voluntarily donate but that everyone could have the chance to run no matter their own personal situation,” she said.

Joe Midlick, sponsorship director, provided the connection to an area charity to support.

“I knew just the place that could use some help,” Midlick said. “Gleaners Food Bank is a smaller operation that is trying to get a truck in full of food right now to help the community. The Youngstown Community Food Center and Gleaners Food Bank had no idea we were planning to donate to them until after we lined up all the details and got approval from Mark Lipinsky, Youngstown Marathon Board CEO, to move forward.”

Joe Lordi, the founder of Gleaners, created the nonprofit organization after experiencing tremendous loss himself. The organization started out of the back of a vehicle in 1986 and has grown to serving more than 4,000 families a month.

“I tell them if they can find a way here, we can find a way to get you a bag of groceries. This week our bags included vegetables, fruit, lunch meat, milk, bread, cottage cheese. We served 430 bags on Tuesday and expect that number to grow next week,” Lordi said.

All donations go to Gleaners.

Those not wanting to participate in the virtual run can also go to the website and click the link provided to just send a donation. Donations can be made anonymously if desired.

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