Arnold Sports Festival
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Arnold Sports Festival Running Events
The Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, hosts a series of athletic events featuring various ways to complete a 5-kilometer distance. These events take place at the Arnold Sports Festival and offer participants the opportunity to combine running with strength disciplines or traditional rucking.
Participants can choose from three main event formats:
- Arnold 5K Run / Walk: A traditional 5K open to all runners and walkers. Strollers are permitted for this event.
- Arnold 5K Pump & Run: A combined event where athletes bench press a percentage of their body weight before the run. Participants can perform up to 30 repetitions, with each successful lift reducing their 5K run time by 30 seconds. This event is limited to 1,200 participants and requires participants to be at least 18 years old.
- Arnold Ruck: A 5K completion while wearing a weighted vest, ruck sack, or equivalent weight of at least 15 pounds.
The Arnold 5K Pump & Run utilizes ten different age and gender divisions to determine the weight requirements for the bench press. Men are required to lift between 60 and 100 percent of their body weight, while women lift between 40 and 70 percent, depending on their age category. The lifting portion is overseen by U.S. Military ROTC members and drill instructors.
All registered participants in these events receive an event t-shirt, a finisher medal, and professional race photos. Registration also includes admission to the Arnold Expo held on the same day as the events. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
