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FITPHX LAUNCHES WEEKLY “MEET ME DOWNTOWN” COMMUNITY WALK/RUN WITH TITLE SPONSOR BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA
A new event, “Meet Me Downtown,” will draw hundreds of walkers and runners to downtown Phoenix every week. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is title sponsor, partnering with the city’s FitPHX program. Operating partners are Downtown Phoenix, Inc.; CityScape Phoenix; The Corner restaurant; Sole Sports Running Zone; the Phoenix Parks Foundation and Meet Me Concepts, which has operated a similar event in Tucson for more than five years.
Sara Anderson and Mira Word from Downtown Phoenix, Inc.
The inaugural Meet Me Downtown walk/run will be Monday, Nov. 10, with participants meeting up starting at 5:15 p.m. each week at The Corner restaurant at CityScape Phoenix. See a map of the 3+ mile route (below) and details at www.meetmedowntownphx.com and follow/like the new social media sites – @mmdtphx and facebook.com/mmdtphx.
Click to enlarge the map.
“Our goal is for Meet Me Downtown to be a must-do, fun activity that becomes a tradition in our thriving downtown,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “It’s a great opportunity for our FitPHX citywide initiative to partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and downtown businesses.”
“Meet Me Downtown is not only an opportunity for residents to run and walk with their friends, family members and colleagues,” said Councilman Valenzuela. “It also is a unique way for residents to come together as a community, move toward our FitPHX goals, and experience the sights, sounds and spaces of downtown Phoenix.”
The second Meet Me Downtown, on Nov. 17, will feature health education from BCBSAZ.
“Supporting the city of Phoenix and Downtown Phoenix, Inc. through FitPHX’s Meet Me Downtown fits our mission – helping improve the quality of lives for Arizonans, said Jeff Stelnik, senior vice president of strategy, sales and marketing for BCBSAZ. “Residents will have the chance to interact with downtown businesses while getting fit. We are excited to be the title sponsor.”
Meet Me Downtown will take place every Monday night – rain, shine and holidays. Walkers and runners can check in at www.meetmedowntownphx.com and at The Corner, where an “MMDTPHX” hand stamp will be identification for restaurant discounts on Monday evenings. Sole Sports Running Zone along with the Downtown Phoenix Ambassadors will be there to welcome and check everyone into the program.
The main route is 3.3 miles long, which should take about an hour for the average walker. There also is a two-mile extension option for runners who want to join friends for a five-mile weekly run. Back at The Corner around 7 p.m., Meet Me Downtown will have a free weekly raffle, and incentive awards for attending 10, 25, 50 and 100 times. On Nov. 10, the first 200 walkers/runners to arrive will receive free inaugural Meet Me Downtown t-shirts.
“Meet Me Downtown will provide a Monday night boost for our restaurants and businesses,” said Dave Krietor, CEO of Downtown Phoenix, Inc. “For those who have not been downtown in the last few years I think they will find the positive changes remarkable.”
Images courtesy of FitPHX.
