With first big race of season approaching, kids get head start with Mini Heart Run

The big race is a little more than a week away, but on Thursday about 100 pre-schoolers got a head start on the Alaska Heart Run.

The 16th annual Mini Heart Run, organized by the Providence Center for Childhood Development, sent kids out on a short loop around the Providence Health Park courtyard.

A much bigger crowd is expected for the main race on Saturday, April 22.

One of Anchorage's rites of spring and the first big footrace of the season, a field of 5,000 is expected to participate in the 39th annual Heart Run, a 5-kilometer race that raises money for the American Heart Association.

At least two elementary schools – Northern Lights ABC and Nunaka Valley – should be particularly well represented on race day.

For the fourth year in a row, Northern Lights ABC is setting the pace for elementary school participation and fundraising. The school has raised more than $3,000 so far, said Dustin Morris of the American Heart Association.

At Nunaka Valley, all 268 students will get free entry courtesy of Medical Park Family Care, which is providing a grant for the Title I school.

"We are hopeful this will be the start of a new annual program," Morris said.

The race course remains the same as the last two years, with the start and finish line in the Alaska Airlines Center parking lot.

Online and in-person registration runs through next week. You can sign up online at alaskaheartrun.org or in person at any of three bib-pickup events at the King Career Center:

— Saturday, April 15, noon to 3:00 p.m.

— Wednesday, April 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

— Friday, April 21, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Bibs can also be picked up the day of the race beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center, although people are encouraged to get their bibs in advance.

Race-day registration for the untimed 5K and the 3K walk will be available, but the deadline to enter the timed 5K race is midnight on Thursday, April 20.

If you sign up by this Saturday, you'll save some money. Entry fees range from $25-30 for adults and $10-15 for kids under 18 through Saturday. After that the cost is $30-35 for adults and $15-20 for kids under 18.

Through Thursday, the race had raised nearly $200,000 in pledged donations. This year's goal is $335,000.