By Mike Stechschulte
Special to The Leader
Longtime health enthusiasts Drs. Mark and Colleen VanHoogstraat have always been fitness fanatics, helping patients one at a time to recognize how to live healthier, stronger lives through their chiropractic business in downtown Oxford.
Since helping to found the country’s first nationwide chiropractic chain in 2003, Chiropractic USA, the VanHoogstraats have put on a number of clinics and programs designed to get people out and moving, but none have been as widely successful as their annual ‘Motion is Life? 5K race.
The race, originally the brainchild of Dr. Colleen, began last year as a way to give back to the community both by raising money for Oxford/Orion FISH, a local charitable organization, and by raising and promoting awareness for the health and well-being of its citizens.
In its second year, over 65 people participated in the run, which was divided into 5K and one mile circuits touring downtown Oxford and the Polly Ann Trail, with the majority of runners choosing the longer route.
Runners were divided into gender and several age groups ranging from seven to 60 and older, and awards were given out following the race for the top finishers in each group, including awards for the top three overall runners.
Stealing the show for the second straight year was the Romeo High School track team, of which the top three finishers were all members.
First-place finisher Dan Grozwalsky, a senior at Romeo, ran the 5K in 17:02, beating out sophomore teammates Brad Vincent and Nick Jackson, who ran the circuit in 17:38 and 18:28 respectively. Junior Courtney Kormos finished first among the ladies, running the 5K in 21:11.
However, it seemed that the older folks were the ones having the most fun.
‘My two daughters and I ran it together and we all finished it together; it was a lot of fun? said Lake Orion resident Bill Parker, who participated for the second year in a row. ‘I’m just having fun with my girls ? they’re both athletes and I used to be an athlete. I don’t quite push it this hard anymore, but it was a beautiful morning, and it’s a nice, easy course to run.?
According to the VanHoogstraats, the race was a perfect way to reach out to the community to encourage more people to get active.
‘It’s one of those things that falls in line with what we try to teach people ? to inspire people to get out and get their bodies moving and get some exercise,? said Dr. Mark. ‘It’s such an opportunity for people in the community to come on out, do something fun, do something with the family, to bring their kids, their strollers, and even their pets if they want.?
‘We really need to be moving as families and adopting a healthy lifestyle,? said Dr. Colleen.
Although the race did not generate the kind of financial support from local businesses and schools that the VanHoogstraats would had hoped, Chiropractic USA still plans to make a charitable donation to FISH.