Second annual MLK Day 5k Drum Run scheduled for Jan. 13
Birmingham’s second annual MLK Day 5K Drum Run is scheduled to take place this Saturday in downtown Birmingham.
The run features high school, middle school and nonprofit drumlines playing at various points along the 3.1-mile course, which begins and ends at Kelly Ingram Park near the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Five drumlines participated last year, and as of Tuesday, five drumlines had confirmed they will be there Saturday, said Herman Mannings III, the founder of the race. Those include the drumlines from Ramsay High School, Fairfield Preparatory High School, Litchfield Middle School in Gadsden and two drumlines from the Freestyle Percussion nonprofit group, he said. There could be additional ones, he said.
The MLK Day 5K Drum Run was started in Atlanta in 2012 and has grown there from about 700 runners and walkers the first year to about 2,900 people last year, Mannings said.
Mannings, who is a Birmingham native and now maintains homes in both Atlanta and Pelham, wanted to bring the race to his hometown, so he started one in Birmingham last year.
About 350 people registered for the inaugural Birmingham race, Mannings said. At least 265 people completed it, according to race results based on runners and walkers with microchipped bibs.
The race is designed to bring all kinds of people together in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. “Nothing shows unity like a road race does,” Managings said.
Organizations such as schools, churches, businesses and nonprofit groups can register as teams, and approved groups will receive $5 back for each person who lists that team on their registration form, Mannings said. For example, if 100 people list themselves as being on a particular approved team, that organization would get $500 to use for the community effort of its choice, he said.
The cost to participate in the race is $30 through Jan. 12 and goes up to $35 on race day — Saturday, Jan. 13. Runners and walkers can register online at mlkday5kbham.com through Wednesday and in person in the common area of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, and on race day, starting at 7 a.m.
The 5K begins at 8 a.m. at Kelly Ingram Park on 16th Street North, heads south and turns left onto Third Avenue North, right onto 20th Street, left onto Second Avenue South, left onto Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard, right onto Third Avenue North, left onto 24th Street North, left onto Fourth Avenue North, right onto Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard, left onto Park Place and by Linn Park, left onto 19th Street, right onto Fourth Avenue North, right onto 16th Street and finishes up back at Kelly Ingram Park.
The Trak Shak is providing timing for the run. After the race is over, the drumlines will gather for showcase performances, Mannings said.
Groups interested in becoming approved beneficiaries should contact Mannings at info@leftoverenergy.com or 470-444-9844.
More than 275 people had registered for this year’s run as of Monday night, Mannings said. To register for the race today, to volunteer to help, or for more information, go to mlkday5kbham.com.