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Athletes take heart at Run For Your Life

Joelle MilholmPost Independent Staff
Post Independent Photo/Kara K. Pearson
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It made have been clouded by rain last year, but that didn’t deter the Run for Your Life race from coming back again this year.The 4-mile run, which is held to raise awareness about heart attacks and strokes, will be held on Saturday at Triangle Park in River Valley Ranch in Carbondale. The event also includes a walk, for those who would rather not run, and a 1-mile run for kids 15 and under.”Last year the runners really liked it, despite the rain,” said Dr. Greg Feinsinger, the race’s founder. “I am hoping we are going to get a lot of people this year.”

Feinsinger, a family physician for more than 30 years at Glenwood Medical Associates, has made it his mission to prevent heart attacks and strokes by getting people to do better things for their hearts.”Most heart attacks don’t have to happen. We all, people and doctors, need to be doing more to prevent heart attacks and strokes – especially people with family histories of heart problems,” Feinsinger said.About 1.5 million Americans suffer heart attacks each year, resulting in more than 150,000 deaths and making it the No. 1 killer in the country, according to Glenwood Medical Associates’ Web site. Those are numbers Feinsinger wants to see go down. “Most of us in this country are going to die of a heart attack, which is a shame, because it doesn’t have to happen,” Feinsinger said.

Cost for the race is $25 for individuals, children under 10 are free, and there is a family discount price of $10 per family member when there are more than two people signing up. Donations beyond entry fee are gladly accepted. Most of the proceeds will go to the Valley View Hospital Foundation for the new cardiovascular suite to be built in near future.”We are trying to keep people out of that, but it will be useful for those who need it,” Feinsinger said. “So not only will people not have to go to Grand Junction when they have heart problems, but it will also save lives for those who need emergency heart care.”Remaining proceeds will be donated to the Glenwood Springers Track Club in hopes of getting kids excited about exercising.



“They are what we are all about: keeping the youth healthy through being active,” Feinsinger said.Run for Your Life will start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The course follows the Crystal River on a bike bath. Participants will complete two 2-mile loops if they are in the running race. Entry forms are available at Glenwood Medical Associates or can be picked up at sports stores throughout the valley, including Ajax and Ute City Cycles in Carbondale. There will also be race-day registration from 7:30-8:15 a.m.A raffle will be held for all participants, with prizes including 20 gift certificates for dinner at area restaurants and three tickets from Glenwood Medical Associates for a free IMT scan (which can reveal dangerous plaque in the carotid artery). The fastest male and female will also receive $50 gift certificates to area restaurants, and awards will be given to age-group winners. There will also be a prize if anyone breaks the course record of 23 minutes and 7 seconds, posted by last year’s overall winner and Carbondale resident Carrie Messner, who is also a member of the USA Women’s Track team.


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