Women from throughout the 501 and across the state gathered in Conway in May to celebrate “The Magic of New Beginnings” and participate in the annual Women Run Arkansas 5K Run/Walk.

“The Magic of New Beginnings” was the theme for the 21st edition of the Women Run Arkansas Women Can Run/Walk clinics, which kicked off the first week of March. The 5K marked the completion, or graduation, for participants in the clinics.

Across the state, there were 41 clinics and 5,678 clinic participants and 1,897 who registered for the 5K.

“I think race day went great,” said Linda Starr, state clinic co-director with Yvonne Schrepfer. “Things went very smoothly in all areas I heard about.”

Directors for the 5K were Lee Ann Moore and Brandy McCollum. “They were new and accepted the positions around October of last year so they did not have the usual time for planning everything for the 5K,” said Linda. “They both did a fantastic job making things happen on time.

“A big thanks to all of the volunteers as a race like this would be impossible without all of the many wonderful volunteers. The WRA Board also plays a very important role in making the event possible. A huge thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors for their support as well.”

According to Linda, plans are already in the works for next year’s clinics and WCR Graduation 5K “so we can make them even bigger and better.”

Linda said there are a lot of success stories from ladies in all of the clinics around the state. “It would take a book to share all of them,” she said. “That is what it is all about!”

Cities hosting clinics included:
Batesville, Beebe, Cabot, Clinton, Conway, Corning, Danville, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Greenbrier, Green Forest, Guy, Harrison, Heber Springs, Hector, Hope, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Little Rock Fellowship, Little Rock Hillcrest, Lonoke, Marshall, Maumelle, Morrilton, Mountain Home, Murfreesboro, Nashville, North Little Rock, Paris, Piggott, Pine Bluff, Prescott, Russellville, Saline County, Searcy, Sherwood, Vilonia, West Memphis and Wooster.

Proceeds from the 5K benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Neurofibromatosis Research.

For more information, visit womenrunarkansas.net. (See more photos on the 501 LIFE Facebook page and on 501lifemag.com.)