Running for Home so others may have homes of their own
By Jennifer Kneuss
April 18, 2011
312
Summary: High winds did not prevent a new record from being set at the annual Run for Home half-marathon for Habitat for Humanity.
Uninformed motorists no doubt were startled as they encountered 1,333 runners throughout the streets of New Philadelphia and Dover on a windy Sunday afternoon recently. The runners were participating in Union Hospitals Run for Home half-marathon, a 13.1-mile race that had Tuscora Park as both its starting and finish line.
Thomas Buchanan, accompanied by his daughters Sicily, 2, and Sydney, 1, cheered wildly as the starting gun went off at one pm on April 17.
I am here to support my wife, Larissa, explained the young Army recruiter, who relocated with his family to the New Philadelphia area in October 2010. For about the last year, it has been Larissas passion to stay physically fit. She started off just working out, and then started competitively running. This is her first half marathon. She ran a 5 K to get ready. Larissa was working with a group out of the YMCA to get prepared. They met every Thursday for a lecture, and then every Saturday for groups runs, so they got progressively better. They worked their way up to 6 or 7 miles, and eventually on to 12. She has been at it for ten weeks of training. Im so proud of her! In the Army, the furthest Ive run is six or seven miles, so she is trying to double that today. Im real proud of her.
All proceeds from the Run for Home annual event go toward Tuscarawas Countys Habitat for Humanity, a program where eligible residents can invest work sweat equity, along with affordable payments, in order to obtain a home of their own.
The two day community event also promoted healthy lifestyles, and included a pasta dinner on April 16 to benefit the Fit Youth initiative, and a Health and Fitness Expo, all at Tuscora Park. April 17 events included a continuation of the Expo, the half-marathon, a team relay, five-mile walk, one-mile fun run/walk, and a kids run.
The one mile run/walk is a full tour of the park, explained volunteer Kait Gallagher.
This can be for anyone who is interested in running or walking the mile. We encourage kids to do it, but we also encourage parents and kids to do this together.
Kait volunteers each year with her parents, Jim and Karen Gallagher, who are in charge of the one-mile event.
We had so many people register at the last minute. We probably have at least 150 people doing this. As for the little kids run, I never have any idea how many there are. They just jump in and start running, and we hug them when they come over the finish line. We give 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each age group, and we also give a first place male and first place female award, said Karen Gallagher. There is a $15 fee for the one-mile run, and pre-registered people also got a shirt. All of this goes to Habitat for Humanity, and thats the bottom line of all we do here.
Teri Miller has worked as volunteer coordinator for the past three years of the event. I get all of the aid stations and water stops together, getting all of the volunteers around the park and along the running route. I didnt sleep much last night, thinking about all of it, admitted Miller, as she awaited the start of the one-mile walk/run. I am a local runner, and I thought this was a great way to get involved with the community. Habitat is a fantastic organization.
Miss Ohio 2010 Becky Minger sang the National Anthem prior to the half-marathon race at 1 pm, and then stood by to greet runners in the one-mile event. She later assisted with marathon race awards as well.
Im glad to be here, stated Minger. This is for a great cause, Habitat for Humanity. This is a really great thing to have an entire community rally behind a cause, and to really come together to be healthy and fit as well.
Half-Marathon Race results:
Men: Nik Schweikert, Canton: 1:09:38.46 (new race record)
Ladies: Kelsey Devereaux, Jackson, MI: 1:26:58.68.
Overall Relay: Logan Kettlewell, Brady Yoder, Blake Yoder
Co-Ed Relay: Rachelle Valentine, Heath Boylan, Sanford Boylan
Female Relay: Patti Katz, Kylie Klass, Meghan Vadasc
Mens Relay: Steve Neading, Jim Nixon, Mark Harr
One Mile Run/Walk Race results:
Male: Justin Thorton: 5.58
Female: Lauren Stewart: 6.34
