The Ohio Police and Fire Games 5K Muster will mark its 10th anniversary on Saturday on Courthouse Square in downtown Warren.
The event benefits the USO of Northern Ohio, according to race organizer Donald Hyde.
"Each year it's gotten bigger and bigger," Hyde said. "Last year there were about 200 runners and 50 or 60 walkers and we're hoping this year there will be more than that."
In addition to the 5K, a 1-mile walk and quarter-mile kids run around Courthouse Square are planned. Hyde estimated 50 children participated in the 2011 event.
The 5K Muster has signaled the beginning of the annual Ohio Police and Fire Games. That is again the case, although the games are located in Canton this year. The games are to begin on Sunday.
Warren hosted the games in 1998, 1999 and 2003. The '03 games were the first to be ushered in with the race Hyde helped put together.
Hyde said the 5K field traditionally features runners of all shapes, sizes and expertise.
"It's a good mixture of runners," he said. "You've got your younger and your older runners."
Hyde has been a runner since 1978.
"I used to play racquetball," he said. "It's just a way to try to stay in shape. I participate in a lot of them."
But there is another reason Hyde became involved.
"The main emphasis is to support the USO," he said. "We're going to have a ceremony for veterans and we'll be honoring two World War II POWs. We've also invited all the veterans we can get down there and the Boy Scouts for a flag presentation."
Hyde, who retired from the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department in August 2011, remains on the board of directors for the Ohio Police and Fire Games.
"It takes a lot of efforts to put those games on, but it's for a good cause," Hyde said.
