Stephani Perez-Munoz

Fleet Feet in Hattiesburg celebrated Global Running Day on Wednesday by hosting its first 5K race, drawing more than 130 participants.
The race, called the Big Run, marked the local store’s inaugural participation in the annual nationwide event. The store was the only first-year Fleet Feet to host a Big Run in the national franchise.
Owner Chris Walker said 133 runners signed up, which he considered a strong turnout for the store’s first race.
“I was kind of proud of that for a new store first-year race,” Walker said. “I think we can get 200 next year.”
Walker said he hopes the event inspires more people in the community to get involved in local races. He shared that running is deeply personal to him—he met his wife through the sport while coaching a Fleet Feet running program in Jackson.
“Hopefully they have fun and enjoy it, and it’ll inspire then to do other runs in Hattiesburg,” Walker said. “It’s a way for people to meet other runners and make new friends and just celebrate trying to be healthy.”
JoAnna McKinley, a pacer for Fleet Feet Hattiesburg’s training programs, said the turnout was impressive considering the store hasn’t yet reached its one-year anniversary.
She noted that Hattiesburg has a strong running community and expects the event to help it grow even more.
“Seek out people, some of the same age and even us older ones,” McKinley said. “So, look at the Pine Belt Pacers Facebook page and check it out and just get advice because everybody’s willing to give it and they’ll want to be helpful.”
Jean Anne Potin, a participant in both the Pine Belt Pacers and Fleet Feet’s Big Run training program, said she was thrilled when she heard a Fleet Feet store was opening in Hattiesburg.
“It’s been great,” Potin said. “The running community is accountable. And it really helps you feel better, like you don’t want to go and then you go, and you feel so much better afterwards for showing up and being with your friends.”
Walker said newcomers to running shouldn’t be intimidated and are always welcome.
“If you’re not sure about coming to a run, we have people from walkers to super-fast runners, all paces, all ages,” he said. “All faces and paces are welcome is what we like to say.”