The Williams Station Day 5K is back this year and stronger than ever.

“We’re just building it year by year,” Atmore Chamber of Commerce Director Sheryl Vickery said. “It just kind of fell through the cracks for a couple of years.”

Last year, the race managed to attract 53 total registered participants, many of whom didn’t register until the day of the race. This year, Vickery expects the turnout to be much greater.

“We’re hoping we’ll have 80 this year. My goal is 100,” Vickery said.  “I’d love to see this race at 100 right now. My vision and my goal is to make this a very large race and we’re creeping that way. We’re seeing more people interested earlier in time this year. It takes a year to build a race.”

2011 was the first year where the race was coordinated by the Atmore Chamber of Commerce.

“Last year, it was our first year that we took the race and made it a Chamber event,” Vickery said. “Being a former runner and knowing people who liked the race was a part of that.”

The path of the race will stretch from around the fire station on South Pensacola Ave. out to Old Bratt Road. There will be a water station for runners at the halfway mark.

There will be awards for those who finish first, second and third in the 14 different age categories. Additionally, each runner who pre-registers for the race will receive a t-shirt and the overall winners of each gender will receive a special prize yet to be determined.

“We’re giving the first overall male and the first overall female something related to art,” Vickery said.

Vickery expects there to be quite a few people from out of town to participate in the race.

“Last year, the winners were from out of town and they’re already coming back,” she said. “If you put on a great race, people will come and come back.”

Vickery welcomes anyone with interest to become involved, as the event still needs the assistance of volunteers.
“It takes a lot of volunteers to do a race,” she said. “I need more volunteers.”

The sponsors for the 2012 Williams Station Day 5K are: Baldwin Gulf Coast Pest Control, First National Bank, Walgreens, Pepsi Cola, Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union, Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI), Southeast Podiatry, and United Bank.

For those interested in registering for the race, the registration fee is $15 through the day before the race, Friday, Oct. 26, and $20 the day of the race, Saturday, Oct. 27.

The Atmore Chamber of Commerce may be reached for additional information at 251-368-3305.