By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Do you want to become more active and involved in your community? Why not get your excerise at the beautiful Niles Riverside Park's Riverside Trail on Thursday evenings.
Niles Thursday Night Community Run/Walks is a new approach to get people out and more active in the Niles area.
Along with seeing the beautiful park, runners and walkers will get to listen to the sounds of music coming from the Riverfront Amphitheatre for the "Thursday Night Live" Rock N' Roll Concerts from 7-9:30 p.m., will be offered free water and sports drinks and can run or walk as fast, slow or far as they want to.
There will also be information available on area running events and runnings clubs.
This is an opportunity to get in shape, listen to great music, meet runners and walkers from all over Michiana and is fun for the entire family.
The trail distances are marked every half mile. Runners and walkers start at the trail next to the amphitheatre.
For more information call 687-4332 or visit www.nilesmi.com.
Other running events around the area this year include:
Steve's Run, July 30 in Dowagiac, www.swmich.edu.
Red Bud Extreme 5K, August 27 in Buchanan, 695-1515.
Fifth Third Bank and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA present the Riverfest Run 5K Run and 5K Walk. Aug. 6, 9 a.m. at Niles Riverfront Park. For more information call 683-1552 or www.nilesriverfest.org.
Niles Optimist presents Childhood Cancer 5K Run. Sept. 3, 8:30 a.m. at the Howard Township Fire Department. Visit www.nilesoptimist.org.
18th annual Niles Triathlon and Duathlon Sept. 3, 8:30 a.m. at the Howard Township Fire Department, 2681 Detroit Rd. This event is sponsored by The Noon Optimist Club of Niles. This is a swim, bike and running event. For more information visit www.nilesoptimist.org.
1st Source Bank Thanksgiving Day Run Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. 10K, 5K runs and 5K walk. For more information contact the Niles-Buchanan YMCA at 683-1552.
All Niles and Southwest Michigan running event applications can be picked up at the YMCA, 315 W. Main St. 683-1552.