The Homecoming 5K might not have been a hallowed tradition at Penn State–it’s only two years old–but during that time, it’s “kicked off Homecoming week,” according to Homecoming Public Relations director Marta Jonca.

But due to a scheduling conflict, the event will be missing from the 2011 calendar.

“We had to change the 5K this year because it fell on a weekend that there was a football game,” said Jonca, “We couldn’t do it because of the game.” Indeed, the proposed date for the run, October 9th, would have fallen one day after the Lions hosted the Iowa Hawkeyes, and six days before the Homecoming game against Purdue.

Rather than change the date, the Homecoming Committee decided to change the nature of the event. Instead of a traditional 5K race that would’ve served as a “huge fundraiser,” that Sunday will now see the “In the Park Homecoming Walk,” a leisurely stroll across the warning track at Medlar Park, the baseball field next door to Beaver Stadium on the far east side of campus.

“We tried to change the date, but couldn’t find one that worked,” Jonca said. Instead, Homecoming will “keep this Walk as a kickoff as well for Homecoming Week.”

That’s not to say that it will be a step down from the past 5Ks. According to Jonca, the Committee will “introduce the court to the students and to the public for the first time,” and yes, the Walk will be open to the public.

“This is really more for the community, not just students,” Jonca said. As proof, she pointed out some of the different stops on the walk–which include a moon bounce and face-painting station for children.