Staff report
SIDNEY — Walkers and runners will have an opportunity to participate in an unusual 5K here on Sept. 5.
The Shelby County Historical Society (SCHSwill host its Run to the Wall beginning at 8:30 a.m. that day. The wall is the Vietnam Memorial traveling replica wall, which SCHS will exhibit in Custenborder Park from Sept. 3 through Sept. 6.
The 5K will begin in the park and at its end, runners will have a choice. They can run the last leg past the wall in order to get a true 5K run time. Or they can slow and join the walkers to move past the wall with reverence, to touch a name that has special meaning, to reflect on the people who gave their lives not just in Vietnam, but in all of America’s wars.
SCHS’s Week of Valor will celebrate those people. The patriotic 5K is one of several events planned between Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.
Advance 5K registration is $15 without a shirt, $20 with a shirt at cantstoprunningco.com, on the SCHS Facebook page and at the SCHS offices in the Ross Historical Center, 201 N. Main Ave. The deadline to be assured a shirt is Aug. 25. Day-of-the-race registration will begin at 7 p.m. The fee will be $20 with no shirt.
Awards will be given to the top male and female runners. Medals will be given to the top three finishers in each age division, male and female.
The route of the race will take walkers and runners first around the Field of Valor, a field of American flags – it is hoped there will be 1,000 of them – each honoring a serviceman or woman, a first responder or someone who kept a family going at home while a spouse, son or daughter served. The Field of Valor will fly behind the wall throughout the week and will be open 24 hours per day, free of charge.
From the Field of Valor, the racers will go into Tawawa Park, continue on the Veteran’s Military Parkway. They will follow the parkway under Ohio 47, around Baumgarden Basin, across the Ross Bridge to Milligan Glen and then will return to Custenborder Field.
Can’t Stop Running will time the race.
Awards will be given after the last runner finishes. Free refreshments will be served at the finish line. In addition, the Sidney-Shelby County Rotary club will host a pancake breakfast at the wall from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The cost of the breakfast is $6.
For information about the 5K or to purchase a flag for the Field of Valor, call 937-498-1653.
Russia 5K Sept. 6
RUSSIA — The annual Running Raider 5K will take place on Sept. 6 as part of the Russia Homecoming Festvial.
The race will start at 9 a.m. and will begin at the high school and finish at the Homecoming grounds.
The top male and female runners will each receive $100, and medals will be awarded to the top three in each age group.
There will also be door prizes, and participants must be present to win
Fruit, water and yogurt will be provided at the completion of the race.
Pre-registration is $20 with a T-shirt or $12 without the shirt.
Forms can be found on the Sheby County 5K Tour website or on the Fish Report website.
Pre-registration deadline is Aug. 26. Participants may also register on race day in the Russia School commons beteeen 7:45 and 8:45 at a cost of $15 (no T-shirt).
A one-mile fun run will start at 10 a.m. with only race-day registration available for a dollar.
For additional information, contact Holly Dapore at [email protected], or by phone at 937-526-4525.
