Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s the press release. I interviewed Jennifer last year after her accomplishment and found her thoughtful and inspiring. Go out and meet her, then run a little. It’s for a good cause:
Jennifer Pharr Davis, Women’s Appalachian Trail Record Holder, will kickoff the FLOW 5K on March 7 at 9am at Carrier Park. Davis set the record as the fastest female to complete the entire Appalachian Trail this past August 2008 where she hiked (and sometimes ran) 2,175 miles in 57 days, 8 hours and 35 minutes; 30 days faster than the previous female record holder.
The FLOW 5K race and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk is Asheville Middle School’s fundraiser to benefit local nonprofit RiverLink in its efforts to protect and cleanup the French Broad River as a place to live, work and play. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 200 registered participants in the 5K with great prizes awarded to the top two males and females in each age group.
The FLOW 5K race begins at 9am on a fairly even course that includes paved and trail portions, all with a serene view of the French Broad River. The FLOW 1 mile Fun Run/Walk will begin after the completion of the 5K. Registration for the 5K is $20 per person before race day and $25 on race day. The 1 mile Fun Run/Walk is $5 per person. In addition to prizes to the top two males and females in each age division, there will be a prize for the top male and female Asheville Middle School students as well as door prizes.
The 5K race is the culminating event for the FLOW, For Love of Water, unit the 8th grade class has been studying that raises such questions as how does the water cycle work, how are people and water connected and who owns water. This integrated unit of study, designed specifically for the 8th grade class, incorporates community service projects providing opportunities for the students to realistically apply water conservation methods they have learned about. In addition to the race where all proceeds will go to RiverLink to support their efforts in improving and protecting the French Broad River, students will also be making and selling rain barrels. These rain barrels will be designed for homeowners and small business owners to harvest rainwater to use in irrigating their gardens and lawns.
