HUNTINGTON -- A local recreational runner is participating in Saturday's West Virginia 5K Championship for a pair of ideal reasons ... family and health.

Saturday's race will be David Willis' first. The Chesapeake, Ohio, resident has adopted fitness via biking, hiking and running to offset private and professional upheavals in recent years.

"It was a rough winter with the surgery, and things were kind of depressing, and I needed something to bring me out of it," Willis said. "And before I knew it I really enjoyed (running).

"It relieves a lot of stress and I'm feeling better."

Also, at 39 years young, Willis is determined to work into the best shape of his life by age 40. Spurring that drive is setting an example for his three daughters, Shelby, Megan and Chloe.

"My daughters have noticed saying, 'You're looking better.' I feel better," he said. "It's good all around."

Admittedly, Willis is uncertain at best at how he'll perform in his inaugural 5K in "Runnington." He underwent shoulder surgery in March to repair an injury suffered at Snowshoe Mountain; yet he's since cut his 5K time from 38 minutes to 31. His goal Saturday is to break 30 minutes. Willis credits Dr. Stanley Tao with the accelerated turnaround.

Regardless, he enters this weekend with the mindset to post a fast time, "not just finish or do OK." Why? Because of the above reasons and a statement that lends perspective to the spirit of the West Virginia 5K Championship.

"Why do I run?" he rhetorically asked. "Because I don't have to. I get to."

Willis, who's lost 20 pounds resulting from his regimen, appears to have chosen a proper layout for his debut. The race course for Saturday is basically flat, conducive to runners posting some fast times.

"Now I'm kind of in cruise control after having a tough year," Willis said. "It's a helping mechanism.

"And I've heard a lot about Huntington not being the fittest town in America and I took offense to that."

Pushing forward, Willis now plans to transition into a running lifer. He jogs two or three miles every other day and will continue to participate in organized races.

"Now I consider myself someone who will run the rest of my life," he said.

Race director Pat Riley said he is hoping to have more than 600 athletes join Willis on the starting line at 8 a.m., Saturday.

To enter or get more information check the website, www.tristateracer.com.

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