Families participated in a fun run with a twist March 15 during the Get Lucky Brew Run. Not only did they trek across the 2-mile track at Riley's Conference Center, but adults 21 and older were able to indulge in St. Patrick's Day weekend festivities with beer-tasting stations set up along the route.

"We're having fun," said Kern Francis, recreation supervisor for Long Fitness Center. "We started it about two (years) ago. We came out around St. Patrick's Day, it was just for morale, people could come out and run, put on their lucky charms and … just have fun."

Twenty-seven participants pre-registered, while many more signed up on site, he said. It was available to civilians, Soldiers and Department of Defense cardholders.

Among them was Heather Hovy, wife of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Hovy, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

"It was pretty good," she said. "The weather was beautiful, so we just kinda ran around enjoying St. Patrick's Day weekend so far."

Hovy brought her two dogs, Duke and Suki, out to enjoy the run as well.

"It's wonderful," she said. "This is perfect for us. With husbands being deployed or on rotation, the dogs are home all day. As soon as I got off work I was able to run home, grab them and come back. It was awesome, just to wear them out … we love it."

Col. Eric Wilson, 1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, joked there were more four-legged friends than there were runners, but that it was great to see families out having fun during spring break.

"It's fun, there's no pressure," he said. "It's great to see all the young families out here with their young ones and it makes you think of back home and why we do the stuff we do."

While families had fun, they also practiced a healthy lifestyle by getting out and exercising.

Hovy, a physical therapist at Irwin Army Community Hospital, stressed the importance of exercise.

"It's extremely important," she said. "I think exercise should be used as one of the ways that people can just get out of the house and feel good about themselves. I feel like in this community, depression and anxiety can run really high for obvious reasons. With people being deployed and [moving] and all that stuff, this is just a really nice outlet. A way to enjoy the weather, meet new people and walk your dogs."

Command Sgt. Maj. Johnny McPeek, 1st Inf. Div. Sust. Bde., agreed that fitness plays a vital role in the Fort Riley community.

"Fitness ties into readiness, and readiness is what we're all about," he said. "It's great to get out there and see people motivated and enjoying (themselves)."