The best things in life are free.

At least that’s what we’re told. Bob Roncker’s Running Spot in Loveland has taken everyone’s love of free stuff to a new level, offering a 5k run every Wednesday night between Memorial Day and Labor Day for anyone who is interested.

“The series has been going for as long as we’ve been here, so we’re now in our fourth year, our fourth summer,” Scott Carney, a Running Spot employee. “We basically run from the Wednesday after Memorial Day to the Wednesday before Labor Day and it’s co-sponsored by Adidas.”

The run is open to anyone and everyone, not just serious runners. As a great way to get out and enjoy the weather, the 5k is staged each week at 6:30 p.m. when the sun is in its waning hours, giving runners the option to pop out after work and get in a solid workout.

As Carney mentioned, the run is sponsored by Adidas and each week there are free raffles that runners can enter to win some Adidas gear. In addition to the raffle that the Running Spot has each week, they also offer a discount on race days.

Adidas products are offered at 20-percent off on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until close.

Carney said that there is no skill level necessary for the run, you just have to be willing to get out to the Running Spot around 6 p.m. and register.

“We have a tent set up in front of the store in the parking lot,” Carney said. “People show up and we’ll have sign up sheets for everybody and plenty of employees there to direct everyone where to go.

“It’s very well run, very well organized. Most of the people that have been doing it have been doing it for three or four years.”

The 5k, which translates to 3.1 miles, is run on the Scenic Little Miami Bike Trail.

“It’s always going south on the trail,” Carney said. “We go out and back. It’s basically a mile and a half out and a mile and a half back. We have a huge digital timer for everyone to see and we provide hydration and again, being that Adidas is the co-sponsor, just by signing up for the race, that enters you into a drawing each week to win a prize from Adidas.”

The race has been very successful during its stint in Loveland and people seem to really enjoy it. It’s a good source of exercise as well as a chance to meet some new people who share similar interests.

If you are not a serious runner or would like to check out the run for the first time, don’t hesitate to call up the store and get more information.

“We get pure walkers who just want to walk for time, to walk-runners to casual runners to serious and elite runners,” Carney said. “Everyone you can imagine.”

For more information about the race, log on to the Running Spot’s website at runningspot.com or call the Loveland store at (513) 831-2378.