March 30, 2016
Military, civilians to take to campus, city streets and trails for foot march
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Military personnel will trudge 18.6 miles, through campus and around the city of West Lafayette, on Saturday (April 2), lugging 25-pound backpacks. Civilians will be right with them.
It's all part of an event called the Norwegian Foot March, a Purdue Army ROTC-sponsored event that borrows its intent, as the name suggests, from Norway's military. And civilian participants need not worry. The heavy backpacks are required only of military participants who are trying to earn a badge.
In addition to the fitness accomplishments, organizers are aiming to serve another cause. They're encouraging those carrying backpacks to pack the required 25 pounds with canned goods to be donated after the race to Food Finders of Lafayette.
The Norwegian Foot March has been held at other sites, but this is the first at Purdue, said Stephanie Fancher, a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Army ROTC member who is serving in a public relations role for the event.
"This run is something the Norwegian military does at the end of their basic training," Fancher said. "Our soldiers who complete the event in the allotted time receive a Norwegian badge to wear on their uniform."
Cost to enter is $40 for civilians and military, and registration is available at http://www.active.com/west-lafayette-in/races/norwegian-foot-march-2016. The event will begin at 8 a.m. in the Ross-Ade Stadium parking lot and end in the same place. While military members must complete the 18.6-mile course in 4.5 hours, there is no time limit for civilians. Registration will be accepted from 5-7 a.m. the day of the event.
Roads affected
While no campus or city streets will be shut down, participants will wind around campus, the city and Happy Hollow Park. Westbound traffic from McCormick Road to U.S. Highway 231 will be closed during the event, from about 8 a.m. to around noon to 1 p.m.
Contact: Stephanie Fancher, sfanche@purdue.edu
