MONTICELLO, NY — This will be the 39th year for the Monster Race held in Monticello and sponsored by the Monticello Rotary Club, when runners will gather on Broadway to compete in the 5k and 10k races; walkers are welcome too. While the race isn’t held until August 6, runners are encouraged to start training now.

This year, though, the focus is not just on runners and the race, but welcoming everyone to join. Novices are encouraged to go “from couch to 5k” to get healthy and have fun. This comes in the wake of news that Sullivan County is ranked second to last (61 out of 62) in New York’s county health rankings.

The reasons for the county’s low health are myriad, but some of the numbers are especially telling, such as short life expectancies, high rate of smoking and obesity, and lmited access to health care.

Members of the community are joining together to support the Monster Race. Les Kristt of Kristt Kelly Company of Monticello and Honesdale is spearheading the race. Others are Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw, Paul Ciliberto from Thunder 102, Denise Frangipane from Sullivan Renaissance and Amanda Langseder from Catskill Regional Medical Center.

“We feel it necessary to get the word out this early about the event so that people can ‘get off their couch’ now to be ready to complete the 5k on August 6,” Kristt said. There will be three different races: The Thunder 102 5k, the Bistek Rivera 10k, and the Barry Lewis Couch to 5k walk. The race starts at Richardson Avenue, near Pizza Hut, at 8:45 a.m. There will be awards, prizes, refreshments and entertainment following the race. The fee to enter is $20 for runners and $15 for walkers, children 10 and under $10; the day-of cost is $25. For an entry form, call Kristt at 845/794-6639, or register online at www.ra ceroster.com.

The race will also raise funds for the Sullivan County Veteran’s Coalition. They raised $6,500 last year for the veteran’s association and hope to expand this year. Kristt said that many veterans in the county live on only $1,200 to $1,400 a month, and need help paying for doctors as well as help getting to the doctor in a rural county where transportation is limited. The Sullivan County legislators have also named the day “Patriot’s Day.”