March 30, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Profile by Sanford.

Walk, run, even bike — it never has been easier to complete a 5K with this first-of-its-kind event from Profile by Sanford.

The Profile 5K Any Way is a virtual race that can be completed anytime May 13-16.

“Virtual 5Ks became more popular during the pandemic as typical 5Ks with thousands of people gathering were canceled,” said Stephen Herrmann, Profile’s senior director of innovation and research.

“So this is an opportunity to do something similar in a positive way that doesn’t require you to meet physically in a single place.”

For Profile, which has 160 locations across the country, planning an in-person 5K in every location presents a lot of challenges even in nonpandemic times.

“This way, we can have a Profile-wide 5K nationally and engage a lot of current members and give them something to put on the calendar and train for and work toward,” Herrmann said.

“And at the same time, we’re hoping to reach nonmembers and engage the businesses we work with to promote it, so it’s a win for everybody.”

Here’s what you need to know.

Signing up, giving back

Registration is open now and runs through May 16.

When you sign up, you’ll receive:

• One Profile Camelbak water bottle, a $14.99 value.
• One box of Profile double chocolate wafer bars, a $19.99 value.
• One box of Profile H2Energy in pomegranate green tea, an $11.99 value.

Profile also will provide a 5K training plan and even a 5K Spotify playlist.

And, best of all, when you register, Profile will donate 10 meals to Feeding America.

“We know during the pandemic people have struggled with food security, so we thought this donation was a good fit,” Herrmann said.

Flexible approach

Getting more active doesn’t look the same for everyone. And running a 5K isn’t for everyone, either.

So the Profile 5K is designed with flexibility in mind, Herrmann said.

“If you can’t do 3 miles at once, do 1 mile a day starting May 13,” he suggested. “That’s fantastic too. We want people to share their maps and times, and get some positive chatter and vibes going.”

You can use a GPS watch or an app to measure and time your race, but you don’t need to! If you would like to use an app to measure your distance, MapMyRun is a popular option. Want to post your results? Share on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #Profile5kAnyway.

“You’ll likely see some of our Profile influencers sharing their 5K experiences too,” Herrmann added.

“And we hope to get all our Sanford executives signed up. One of the biggest challenges in becoming more active is getting people to set a goal and commit to it. This gives you something on the calendar to work toward, and that’s a great way to get moving.”

In-person option

Locally, Profile and the Sanford Wellness Center on Oxbow Avenue will hold an in-person 5K on May 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the race starting at 9:15 a.m. There will be a vendor fair and giveaways all day.

Affordable pricing

The standard entry fee is $40, which includes more than $45 in Profile products.

If you’re a Profile member, your member price is $25.

If you work for an employer partner of Profile, your registration is $30.

And you can save even more. Just for reading this article, you can save $5 off your 5K registration. Just click here to learn more and register, and use the promo code 5kTicket.