Join me on Thursday, March 6, to kick off the first official day of AASA’s National Conference on Education with some morning smiles and miles. It is our third time hosting an official road event with race support, and our second time operating with generous outside support from Johnson Controls and Age of Learning. 

The 5K Fun Run/Walk starts at 6 a.m. on the opening morning of the conference from a starting point at the corner of Canal Street and Badine Street (in front of the Canal Place Building).  The route will take participants along the Mississippi River waterfront.  

As of mid-February, more than 200 individuals had signed up to participate. If you aren’t among them, you can check for availability upon arrival at the registration desk in Hall E of the convention center lobby. The registration fee of $10 gets you an event T-shirt. This is also where those who pre-registered can pick up their participation packets. 

I’ve coordinated some sort of group workout at our national conference and our summer advocacy conference for the better part of a decade now, and it’s always been a highlight of my time at the national conference to shake out our legs and kick off the official start of the big event with a couple hundred of my favorite education leaders. 

This year, I am focused on ensuring that the 5K Fun Run/Walk is truly inclusive. The course and our contract are designed to support runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and paces for the duration of their walk/run. We are a fun run or walk, the cardio option of your choice and preference. 

Throw on your shoes and grab a friend because it really is the more, the merrier. I hope to see you out there! 

Send your questions to me at nellerson@aasa.org.  

(Noelle Ellerson-Ng is AASA associate executive director of advocacy and governance.)