A free Health & Fitness Expo will take place at the Chesapeake Conference Center during the two days before the Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon. And it's not just for runners.

The expo was organized last year as an extra health and well-being event for participating runners after they picked up their race registration packets. This year, the health fair has expanded its scope.

"This will encompass the entire concept of health and well-being," said event organizer Janet Tye Wenger with the city's Conventions & Tourism office.

"It's yet another professional element that's been added to this event," said Ann Hupp, vice-president and co-owner of KaleRunning, the local race management company that's organizing Saturday's marathon. "This will bring more people in, and you don't have to be a registered runner. It's open to all."

New to this year's expo will be the Chesapeake Regional Medical Center's Health Mobile offering free health screenings, and on Friday the American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive.

Exhibits, vendors and booths will cover a wide range of health and sports topics, including chiropractic care, nutrition and skin care, eye care, adventure sports outfitting, athletic apparel, fitness training and coaching and athletic equipment/sporting goods.

And tapping into the Stomp's inaugural children's half-mile run (a.k.a. Cub Run), the Conference Center will sport child-friendly decorations, Wenger said.

The facility will be decorated in a swamp/refuge motif created by the Dismal Swamp Company. It will include indigenous trees, a Moss Man and a camp site. Children will also enjoy temporary tattoos, coloring booths, stickers and other activities and attractions.

The Dismal Swamp Stomp Store will sell a variety of souvenir items, many emblazoned with the event's footprint logo, which won an Addy Award (presented to area public-relations firms, advertising agencies and design companies) last year.

Eric Feber, 222-5203,

eric.feber@pilotonline.com [1] By Eric Feber