Hundreds move their feet at Be Colorado, CU Health Plan 5K run

CU Health Plan and Be Colorado took another step in their movement to promote a holistic approach to wellness by hosting the recent Feel the Heat and Move Your Feet 5K! in Denver’s Washington Park.

With cool, slightly humid mid-60s temperatures the morning of Aug. 7, no one at Washington Park seemed to feel the heat on race day – not that anyone complained. More than 400 health plan members showed up to move their feet.

“CU Health Plan is more than just health insurance. We value wellness, and we want to show that with the events we hold,” said Mallory Bergen, health coordinator at CU Health Plan. “We wanted to encourage people who have never done a 5K to try one out.”

Gathered about 30 feet from the starting line, Kristen Rollins chatted with members of her staff from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Center for Student Involvement. Some were experienced 5K runners; others were trying it for the first time. “We thought it would be a fun chance for our staff to get out together and do something healthy on the weekend,” Rollins said. “We’re excited to support (the first-timers).”

At 8:30 a.m. at the starting line, Anne Lindberg of CorePower Yoga led a 10-minute yoga warmup, calling out and demonstrating stretches and lunges that racers replicated, readying themselves for the race.

Children lined up at 8:45 a.m. for the Kid’s Dash. Crossing the finish line a few minutes later, the little racers received a balloon, a ribbon, a pair of colorful sunglasses as well as high-fives from the Delta Dental of Colorado Tooth Fairy.

As the 5K race neared, the announcer reminded all participants to turn on their Be Colorado Move. apps. The program pays participants $25 for completing 30 minutes of activity 12 days a month. “This is going to count as a workout for sure,” the announcer quipped.

Once the announcer counted down to zero, racers – some going solo, some paired with the family dog, others pushing strollers – flooded across the starting line. The 3.1-mile race snaked around Washington Park’s scenic lake and gardens. At the finish line, racers could grab waters and visit booths with information about Be Colorado, UCHealth, the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, Anthem, Kaiser, Delta Dental of Colorado and Blue Moose of Boulder.

A scant 18 minutes later, the first racer crossed the finish line. Sam Cosgrove, program coordinator for International Student Involvement at CU-Boulder’s Cultural Unity and Engagement Center, was the top male finisher with a time of 18:11 – an average 5:52 mile. Ioanna Antonopoulos, a post-doctoral fellow at the CU Anschutz Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, took the top female prize with a time of 19:48 – an average 6:23 mile.

“When I saw the email for this event, it seemed like a good way to get involved in the community and tie in my love of running,” said Antonopoulos, who ran cross country for the University of Delaware as an undergraduate and now uses her Move. app to spur on her exercise routine. “I think it’s important that the health plans tie in wellness. It shows employees we’re not just seen as workers or employees, but we’re family members, athletes and more.”