BY ERIN WILTGEN

chh@heraldsun.com; 918-1035

CHAPEL HILL -- Music and exercise have long held a strong correlation. But though most athletes listen to their favorite tunes while on the jog, UNC Sport Club seeks to encourage runners to hang around after this year's Race for a Reason to enjoy some post-run music.

The fifth annual Race for a Reason 5K, to be held on Oct. 18 at 9 a.m. on UNC's Ram's Head plaza, has expanded beyond just the run to include a small gathering afterwards on Ehringhaus Field, complete with concerts by campus a cappella groups and food by various vendors.

"We'd like to make it bigger and better and more enjoyable for all those who are going to participate," said Rob Sayre-McCord, Sport Club intern.

Part of the reason for the expansion stems from a hope to draw more participation. Waning attendance over the past few years has seen a drop from 700 registrations two years ago to 400 last year, only 175 of which came out on race day, Sayre-McCord said.

It is hoped that switching the event from the spring, when most sport clubs have their active season, to the fall will bring in more runners, he said. "We're trying to seize on that gung-ho spirit of 'it's the beginning of the semester.' "

To fully capitalize on that energy, Sport Club decided to enlist the help of the Achordants, the UNC Walk-ons and Tar Heel Voices for post-race performances starting at about 9:30 and lasting until around 11. Fleet Feet donated a pair of running shoes that Sport Club will either award the race winner or raffle off after the race; Sayre-McCord said the organization hasn't decided which.

Sport Club has also enlisted a professional photographer to take photos during the race. The pictures will be available for purchase afterwards, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the event's cause.

For food, the race will offer Panera Bread, Alpine, fruit from Carolina Dining Services, Jimmy Johns and Pita Pit. Also, Firehouse Subs on Franklin Street will donate 10 percent of its race-day proceeds to the charity event.

But what's the race without its reason? In addition to food and song, the after-race event will include an informational booth for Girls on the Run, the charity chosen this year to benefit from the race. The added festivities will hopefully serve to highlight the community service aspect of the race and draw people's interest to the group.

In previous years, reasons for the 5K included the Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate program in Chapel Hill and Carrboro schools -- meant to help at-risk youths go to college -- and the Special Olympics.

Like these other charities, Girls on the Run is a nonprofit program dedicated to improving self-esteem. It works with pre-teen girls and encourages them to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. During the 12-week program, volunteer coaches address various issues that affect girls in middle school and train with them for a 5K run/walk at the end.

"They really stood out as the optimal reason," said Sayre-McCord. "Their mission was so in keeping with ours that they seemed like the best candidate for a Sport Club-based charity 5K, what with them being runners."

Sayre-McCord said that this shared vision prompted Sport Club's decision. While most athletes play sports for fun, Sport Club also wants to emphasize the beneficial aspect of exercise, both physical and emotional.

"We're trying to mesh these two sides of our program," he said.

And Girls on the Run's curriculum embodies that goal, bringing the fun of running together with the idea of a healthy lifestyle.

"It was a natural fit, really," said Jason Halsey, Sport Club director. "One of the main things we focus on here is a balanced lifestyle. Obviously, a big part of that often gets neglected is the active, healthy, wellness side. So not only are they focused on exercise like we are, but they're also very conscious of nutrition, body image, all that stuff."

Halsey said that the shared missions of the two organizations could also help Sport Club achieve its other race-day goal of increasing involvement, including branching outside UNC sport clubs -- which are required to sign up a certain number of people each year -- to the wider Chapel Hill community.

In past years, the runners have mostly been UNC students, particularly members of one of the university's 50 sport clubs.

"But there's definitely a strong community contingent," Sayre-McCord said. "And we're expecting that to be even larger this year because of Girls on the Run and the pool that they draw from."

Girls on the Run certainly seems excited to stretch its resources to increase race-day participation. Kelly Hurter, the organization's executive director in the Triangle, will send out information over the group's listserv, which includes girls currently in the program and girls who have been in the program.

Jessy O'Connell, a junior business major at UNC, a graduate of Girls on the Run in Charlotte and a current volunteer Girls on the Run coach in Chapel Hill, said that while she wouldn't be able to run the 5K herself -- she's running a half-marathon on Oct. 17 -- she's encouraging her friends to participate.

O'Connell said the fact that Sport Club chose Girls on the Run as this year's reason surprised and excited her. The proceeds from the race will help with the group's fund-raising and allow more scholarships for girls who can't pay the program fee of about $200.

"Having them as a benefactor for this race will definitely help us reach out to more girls," O'Connell said.

In addition to raising money for the group, Race for a Reason also promotes the message that Girls on the Run tries to instill in its students: a positive self-image through running. Meg Pomerantz, president of the Girls on the Run board of directors, said running has that capability because anyone can do it.

"The girls in the program come in all different shapes and sizes and abilities," Pomerantz said. "They come together and they really encourage everyone, from the best to the least."

Ready to run?

What: Race for a Reason 5K

When: Oct. 18 at the Ram's Head Plaza on UNC's campus

When: 9 a.m.

Cost: $10, includes a T-shirt

To apply:

In person -- go to the Student Recreation Center on South Road on UNC's campus and fill out the application form

Available until race day

Online -- go to www.sportoften.com

Click on "events"

On the left, click on "running"

Scroll down to 10/18/2009 and click on "UNC Sport Club Race for a Reason 5K"

Click on "register online"

Available until noon on Friday, Oct. 16