Over thirty Fall River Fitness Challenge participants got themselves ready for the upcoming Thomas J. Giunta Memorial 5K Road Race by walking and running on a similar course on March 26, 2011 during the sixth Fitness Challenge event. Personal trainer Amy Jones invited each of the participants to sign up for the race which will serve as the seventh Challenge event. Last year, over forty people joined the Fitness Challenge team for the race that winds through the North End streets of Fall River. For the sixth Challenge, participants left from Community Development Recreation (CD-REC) headquarters on Bank Street and then headed up High Street and Highland Avenue past St. Patrick's Cemetery before returning to CD-REC by Bedford Street. Sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), CD-REC, the Fall River YMCA, General Fitness and Healthy City Fall River, and supported by grants from the United Way of Greater Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community, the Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in Fall River to get fit. Click here for the video of the event. Click here for photos of the first Challenge event, here for the second, here for the third,.here for the fourth, and here for the fifth Challenge event. Go to FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com  or call 508-679-0922 to learn more. (Photos and video courtesy of Sara LaPointe)

(Top row, left) CD-REC stafer Robert O'Melia weighs-in Valerie Braga from team IMCA before the Challenge event begins. (Top row, center) Personal Trainer Amy Jones encourages participants to register for the Thomas J. Giunta Memorial 5K Road Race by next week. (Middle row) Challenge participants head up Highland Avenue led by 2008 winner Daryl Parrent. (Bottom row, left) CD-Rec Executive Director Grace Gerling keeps up a good pace running the whole course.