Courtesy of Joe Carei
Fitness was important to Amy Tungate and inspired a race in her memory.
The search for Fayette County’s Fittest Person will raise money to help in the fight against pancreatic cancer in memory of a Uniontown woman who died from the disease.
Amy Tungate was a mother and elementary schoolteacher in the Laurel Highlands School District. She was also the co-founder of the CrossFit U-Town gym. Tungate died of pancreatic cancer in 2021, and her family and friends started Amy’s Army, a local chapter of the nonprofit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Joe Carei, one of the organizers of the event, said health, wellness and fitness were important to Tungate.
The mile puts the spotlight on fitness. Participants will go through a series of exercises — from burpees to overhead presses — racing through seven different stations.
The event also includes a 5K race that starts at the Uniontown High School track and heads through the city and South Union Township. The events are separate, but the fastest man and woman who compete in both will be named Fayette County’s Fittest.
Even those who don’t want to compete for the title should come, said Carei.
“It doesn’t matter how fast you go or how well you do it. It’s more about the community and the people who are out there and want to help with the mission and honor Amy,” he said.
This is the second year for the St. Patty’s 5K and Fitness Mile, said Carei. Those who sign up will receive a T-shirt, post-race food and drinks (a green beer for those over 21; a root beer for those under 21), and a swag bag. Racers are encouraged to wear St. Patty’s day costumes.
The races are on March 21 and start at 9 a.m. at the Uniontown Area High School track, 146 E. Fayette St., Uniontown.
To sign up, go to runsignup.com/Race/PA/Uniontown/StPattys5KandFitnessMile. A hyperlink to the signup page will be included in this article on heraldstandard.com.
