Arlington 5K Sunday, Sept. 10: Bring Your Mom (And Your Gram)

ARLINGTON, MA — If the sweltering hot days of Summer are mostly behind us, the perfect Autumn running days are arriving. And if you're looking for something to do this weekend that keeps you outside, and benefits others, the Council on Aging is hosting a 5k in the name of helping Senior citizens, while encouraging folks - of all ages - to get out and get active.

“The 5K race is a fun way to show support for the seniors who add so much to our community,” said Health and Human Services Director Christine Bongiorno in a press release. “I'm looking forward to seeing people from across the generations come together for such a great cause.”

The Council on Aging and Health and Human Services are hosting the annual 5K community race on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. to kick off the AARP and the World Health Organization age-friendly community initiative.

Since 2008 the majority of the world's population have lived in cities, the WHO reported and there are no signs that's changing any time soon. As cities around the world are growing, their residents are living longer. The proportion of the global population aged 60 is expected to double from 11 percent in 2006 to 22 percent by 2050, according to the WHO.

The WHO is asking communities around the world to consider making communities age-friendly as a local policy approach to respond to population ageing.

"The physical and social environments are key determinants of whether people can remain healthy, independent and autonomous long into their old age," reads the WHO's website on the subject.

The WHO age-friendly cities guide highlights eight areas that communities can work on to better adapt their structures and services to the needs of older people: the built environment, transport, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication, and community support and health services.

The eighth annual event is just one way Arlington is working in that direction, according to town officials. The proceeds from the 5k will go to help the some 10,000 seniors in town through the Council on Aging programs and services.

The race starts at Town Hall heads down Mass Ave before cutting over Orvis to Brooks and then looping over via Varnum and Magnolia to the Minuteman Bikeway, where runners and walkers will take that all the way back to the Senior Center.

Registration is currently open to folks of all ages sign up online for $25 by clicking here by noon Friday, Sept. 8. Still, if you miss that, you can still register on race day, for $35. Just get there early.

To see a map of the course click here. Also the first 200 to register get a T-shirt. Oh, and there's an after party.

Photo of the Minuteman Bikeway by Jenna Fisher/Patch