Fit Night Returns for Season 10 in Fort Dodge

It started with just a nice new sidewalk that Craig Jarrard, owner of Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., wanted to help the community break in and enjoy. The neighborhood surrounding the Corridor of Commerce continues to transform and it’s now Season 10 for Fit Night, running May through October on the third Thursday of each month.

The idea for Fit Night was born in 2014 when Jarrard looked out at the new sidewalks installed throughout the Brown’s Shoe Fit neighborhood and had the idea of bringing the community together for an evening stroll.

“We had these nice, brand new sidewalks, and we just had the idea of getting people out in the neighborhood walking,” Jarrard recalled. “Just to get people moving, enjoying the outdoors, it’s a health and wellness thing. We’ve always been big into giving people a good place to come.”

The Fit Night trail always begins at the store, 210 S. 25th St., and then heads to Fifth Avenue South, over to 32nd Street North, towards the middle school, and then back to the store. It’s a very walkable trail for all ages and levels of athletic activity.

“Don’t be intimidated by the ‘fit’ part of Fit Night,” Jarrard said. “Originally, when we started, I think there was a fear of having to perform athletically, and once people realized that it’s go at your pace, there’s no time, there’s no awards. It can be a very leisurely walk, or it can be a very fast run. It’s whatever you want it to be.”

A trail clean-up night was added to the schedule last year and was held in March. This year, looking at Iowa weather, Jarrard opted to move the cleanup to April and move the regular Fit Night season to May through October, always on the third Thursday of the month.

Throughout the past nine seasons, Fit Night has grown consistently from year to year. From the first season that averaged about 25 people participating, last year Fit Night attracted an average of 220 participants turning out each month.

Participants can choose to walk and talk, run at their best pace, or jog as they choose, but however they traverse the trail, they can all enjoy treats and refreshments back in front of the store after completing the route. Each month features a variety of food and drink vendors offering the chance to socialize with friends before heading home.

“We have a lot of finger food and smoothies, but it’s typically enough to call it supper and not have to go home and cook anything,” Jarrard says with a welcoming smile in his voice.

Full-season partners for this year include Tropical Smoothie, River Hops Brewing, Budweiser and Blue Ribbon Pelham Water. Additional partners throughout the season will include Hy-Vee, Mineral City Mill and Grill, Stella’s Coffee Bar, and many others to give participants a tasty reason to stay and socialize a bit.

Mark the calendar for Thursday’s May 18, for the first regular Fit Night of the season, and every Thursday of the month through October.

“It’s a very positive, very energetic experience, and we just need more of that in the world,” Jarrard concluded.