Highmark 33rd Annual Quad Games Announced

The Highmark QUAD Games in Erie, PA, are the region’s premier fitness program with four (quad) year-round events designed to keep families and groups in great shape. Events are designed for participants of all levels. For those interested in testing their athletic skills, the Highmark QUAD offers a competitive level with timed results and event awards. For those looking for a fun way to stay healthy all year, the Healthy Lifestyle Category lists results alphabetically and encourages you to approach the Highmark QUAD and its four events as short-term fitness goals that bring variety and fun to physical activity.

“For more than 30 years, the Highmark QUAD Games have been a fun and unique way for community members to get fit and stay healthy,” said Neil Parham, manager, community affairs, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “We are pleased to continue to be a part of this Erie community tradition.”

The four active sports of the Highmark QUAD Games are not only an efficient way to promote wellness and contain health care costs, but the camaraderie and team building is invaluable. Three decades of Highmark QUAD success has shown that employees who might otherwise drift to ‘happy hour’ after work can instead be found meeting at the Y pool for a swim lesson or taking a pre- QUAD bike ride with an employee leader.

It is especially fun families to introduce children to healthy lifestyle sports. To encourage family participation, the QUAD offers two opportunities for kids for each event. Children 12 & under may participate in the adult distances or in a noncompetitive series of shorter distances held immediately following the adult event. The Y provides free babysitting while adults participate in their event. All children receive a t-shirt and those participating in the noncompetitive series receive a medal.

Since the Highmark QUAD Games began in 1983, thousands of area residents have used it as a year-long four event fitness program and more than 400 participants are expected to kick off year 33rd year of the Games with a 100-yard swim on April 26 at McComb Field House on the campus of Edinboro University. The swim will be followed by a 12-mile bike on July 11, a 5-mile run/walk or 5K run on September 19 and a 5-mile ski or 2.5-mile snowshoe on on January 24, 2016 at Wilderness Lodge.

The Highmark QUAD Games is sponsored by the YMCA of Greater Erie, Utz Snacks, AXA Advisors, Wegmans, PowerAde, Impact Physical Therapy and Saint Vincent Hospital. For more information on the QUAD Games including training clinics and registration visit www.highmarkquad.org.