On July 22, Beat the Heat will return for the 2023 race with a few new additions and changes. Everyone can expect the same awesome race that has been in the Triad for more than 30 years!
Beat the Heat is working in collaboration with two charity partners again this year, including a new partner. Runners contribute money through the race to aid these organizations in accomplishing their mission of supporting healthy living and a love of running. Returning is Ainsley’s Angels of the Triad. A new partnership this year is with Community Care Center for Forsyth County Inc. This group supports connecting individuals in the Forsyth, Stokes, and Davie counties who are medically uninsured to opportunities for coverage. Community Care Center can work with those who are not covered for different reasons. Additionally, they are able to support individuals through other health opportunities.
The competitive 1-miler for the youth returns this year. The Summer Speedsters program with Crazy Running will help prepare kids hoping to be ready for the competitive mile on race day. Crazy Running provides youth participants multiple opportunities to jump in and get prepped for the race, with lots of games and challenges along the way. Any kids up to 13 years old are welcome to participate in this race.
Prior to the race there are a few training opportunities for adult runners to get prepped for the big day! BreakThrough Physical Therapy offered a training program this spring, a collaboration with Crazy Running called Crazy Breakthrough Training. Fleet Feet is bringing back their streaker challenge but for the summertime this go round. The Heatfest will be a competition to run at least two miles every day from July 1 to July 22. Be sure to follow along with the challenge on Strava.
Mid race “Party Zone” will bring excitement for the runners as they near the halfway mark! Runners will be greeted by a cheer group, water station, and music promoting “Healthy Fun for Everyone.” Get excited as you cruise through the party zone at this year’s Beat the Heat.
After the Beat the Heat 5K, runners and their cheering squads are encouraged to stay for the NC USATF 5K Championship. This race will be run as a separate event immediately following the regular Beat the Heat 5K race on a modified course with 3.6 laps on the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, utilizing the same finish line, but different start line as the regular 5K. The course is USATF Certified Course NC21004DF. And this year, Abbey Cooper, Olympian and former Winter Seminar speaker, will join this elite race.
A huge appreciation to the support from presenting sponsor, Cook Medical. Additional sponsors this year include several new food sponsors including Dominos, Healthy Made Simple, Lowes Foods, O’Brien’s Deli, and Whole Foods Market. Beat the Heat wouldn’t be possible without all the support from our amazing sponsors!
And the race wouldn’t happen without dozens of volunteers who come out to make the day special for all the participants. A warm thanks in advance to all the volunteers for BTH and a special thanks to race director, Er Ralston!