Chuck Norris 5K Brings Out 5,000 Chuck Norris Look-a-Likes to High-Five Him at the Finish Line

Chuck Norris does not run a 5K, the entire 5K runs to him. That's what was printed on the t-shirts of a couple who ran the inaugural Chuck Norris 5K in College Station, Texas on Saturday. The race had several niches, including Chuck Norris himself, costumes for runners, a local martial arts exhibition and money getting raised for charities.

And there were no dislocated shoulders reported from the runners who high-fived the actor and martial arts expert at the finish line.

A storm system that battered the area with inches of rain and tornadoes on Thursday and Friday cleared out just in time for a beautiful morning for the 5,000 runners who represented 48 states and seven different countries. The race began at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Texas A&M University, and it followed a route through campus before crossing the finish line back at the Bush Library.

As part of their race packets, each runner was given a fake Chuck Norris beard, stainless steel belt buckle and a t-shirt that resembled the actor's attire in the Invasion USA movie poster. Those who registered early had the chance to have a VIP breakfast with Norris.

Over 5,000 people came out today to run the inaugural Chuck Norris 5K and have the chance to high five Chuck Norris themselves! pic.twitter.com/BHVEnytFxZ

— KBTX News (@KBTXNews) May 4, 2019

"The entire day was an absolute blast. Perfect weather, beautiful venue on the front lawn of the George Bush Presidential Library, 5,000 incredible runners, and Chuck and Gena Norris were just amazing. We couldn't be happier with how this all turned out. So much fun," race founder Chris Field told Newsweek.

For most out there, the race was more of an event than trying to post personal-best times in the 5K. It was about rubbing elbows with Chuck Norris and his wife, Gena, and it was about attempting to break a world record for the most Chuck Norris look-a-likes.

Field said the race committee must submit to different entities to see if the record is accepted for the most people in one place dressed as Chuck Norris.

Costumes for the Chuck Norris 5k were amazing. Fun to watch so many different costumes. pic.twitter.com/s5cszzXj7o

— STRONG, LLC Consulting ✝️ (@CoachingToo) May 4, 2019

Celebrated passing the BOC by running the Chuck Norris 5K. It did not disappoint and I won’t be able to walk tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/C3q0C3gWHw

— Megan White (@LATMegMeg) May 4, 2019

The title sponsor of the race was CForce Bottling Company, which is located across the road from the Norris' nearby ranch in Navasota. The company bottles and sells CForce water, which comes from a 23,000-year-old aquifer that sits beneath Lone Wolf Ranch.

And though the runners had their fun dressing up like Chuck Norris and getting the congratulatory high-five, the race was also designed to raise money for two charities dear to Chuck and Gena Norris. First is the KickStart for Kids program, which teaches martial arts and discipline in middle schools for children who don't want to participate in traditional P.E.classes. Students work their way through the program and earn belt levels—from beginner's white belt all the way to black belt. The program currently has 10,000 students enrolled in Texas

The second charity is the locally-based Mercy Project, which aims to end child slavery in the African country of Ghana.

There were only 5,000 spots available for the race, and it sold out in 13 days after registration opened in late January. There were also Chuck Norris costume contests for men, women and children and there was an exhibition by local KickStart Kids prior to the start of the race.

#Nun so fun as #ChuckNorris #ChuckNorris5k pic.twitter.com/AZWMddVom8

— Rebecca Fiedler (@RebeccaFiedler1) May 4, 2019

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