Taking a jog around Oxford could be a healthy way to prepare for the long Saturday of the Double Decker Arts Festival, says Pam Swain, an organizer of the annual Double Decker Spring 5K/10K Run and Family Fun Run.

“I think the races plays such an important part of the start of the day and allows people to start off their morning with healthy activity,” Swain said. “It’s a perfect way to stat the day and get going for our long-awaited weekend.”

The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi for the last 22 years to host the race on Double Decker weekend. In more recent years, they teamed up with Start2Finish to bring the race up to the next level.

The first 1,500 registered participants who register and finish either the 5K or 10K race will receive a commemorative Double Decker-inspired finisher medal.

A $200 cash prize will be awarded to overall male and female winners in each race. See more at HERE.

The run will use Start2Finish’s State of the Art Jaguar Timing System. Each participant in the 5K and 10K will receive a race number bib with a timing chip included on the bib.

Early registration has ended; however, people can register online through Friday for $35 for the 5K and 10K or $40 the day of the race. The Kids Fun Run is $15.

The 5 and 10K races will begin at the same time this year at 7:30 a.m. and the one-mile Kids Fun Run will begin at 9 a.m.

All registered participants will receive a T-shirt and goodie bag.

Even the little ones who are registered for the Kids Fun Run will get a swag bag; however, the kid’s race is not timed and there is no overall winner. All children will get a participation medal after crossing the finish line.

The run will begin at the Mid-Town Shopping Center Parking lot. Kids will run or walk down North Lamar Boulevard to the corner of Jefferson Avenue and North Lamar, turn around, and run back to the parking lot.

The courses for the 5K and 10K races have changed this year due to some road construction projects. Maps of the course can be found online at www.doubledeckerspringrun.racesonline.com/course-maps.

For more general information, visit www.doubledeckerspringrun.com.