SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The first event was so successful that organizers have lengthened the second annual Outdoor Fitness Festival to two weekends this year, beginning Oct. 25. | Weekly festival listing

The schedule includes fitness events, outdoor adventures, health and wellness activities and wildlife conservation programs.

Running opportunities range from a marathon to 5K cross-country races for adults and shorter races for the kids.

"This is great for the community of Springfield," said Dick Beardsley, a renowned marathon runner who will attend. "Maybe the husband or wife is a marathoner, but the spouse says, 'Well gosh, they have a 5K that I can walk in if I want and they have the kids's runs, too. So then everybody gets to be a part of the big event and make it a destination vacation spot for the whole family."

"We want this event to encourage people of all ages and lifestyles to enhance their fitness level by participating in running, walking, and various outdoor adventures," added event co-chairman Martin MacDonald of Bass Pro Shops.

Other national fitness celebrities will include Frank Shorter, Jeff Galloway and Bill Rodgers.

The itinerary also includes;

•Canoe and kayak races sponsored by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board Oct. 25 at Lake Springfield;

• The North Face sponsors the first Dogwood Canyon 50K and 25K Trail Runs at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park;

• Oct. 27-30 features seminars and other activities;

• A Corporate Wellness Conference on Oct. 31 will focus on educating businesses on solutions to improving health care;

• Bass Pro Shops will host the Fitness & Health Fair from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. Activities will highlight fitness and health with health screenings, informational and interactive booths;

• Bass Pro Shops also serves as the start and finish of the Ozark Greenways 10K/5K at 8 a.m. Nov. 1.

Proceeds go to develop more greenways trails. The Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships also will be held that day. At Lake Springfield, outdoor education classes in canoeing, kayaking, GPS Geo Caching, specialty fishing and other outdoor education tips and instruction will be offered.

The Off-Road Camping Club will host a family camping expedition at the Lake Springfield Park where participants will learn and apply new outdoor skills.

The finale is the Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon and the Maynard Cohick Half Marathon co-sponsored by New Balance, starting at 7 a.m. Nov. 2. The event is certified as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Visit www.basspro.com/fitness for more information, schedules and to register for events.