A while back I thought it wold be cool to have a 5K race (that's a five kilometer running race, for those unfamiliar) staged in our neighborhood. It would be good for our image, bring people into our neighborhood, and possibly be a regular fundraiser for the organization. I stored the idea away as unrealistic, or at least not something that would be a high priority.
Then, in the Erie Times-News a few weekends ago...
5K run/walk to close portion of east Erie streets Saturday
Portions of several Erie streets will be closed this morning for the First Run Through Little Russia 5K run/walk, city officials said.
The run/walk will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The event begins at the corner of East Front and German streets.
The route will continue east on East Front Street to Wallace Street, south on Wallace to East Fourth Street, east on East Fourth to Reed Street, south on Reed to East 10th Street, west on East 10th to State Street, north on State to East Fourth, east on East Fourth to German Street, and north on German to East Front Street, where the event ends.
(Erie Times-News, February 1, 2014)
Bob, if you think this might be something you'd like to do in the future, I have a "celebrity" idea for you - Barb Filutze, the "Queen of Erie running" - according to Erie Times-News, is from this neighborhood. Her grandparents lived in the very house I live in when she was a little girl, then later her parents bought the house and moved in just as Barb was starting a family of her own. She went to St John's and when she first met her husband he went to St Luke's. In 1984, at age 38, Barb was one of 40 US runners invited to Olympia, WA for the first women’s Olympic marathon trials. She didnt qualify but it put her on the radar. After that she was the U.S women’s masters runner of the decade for the 40-50 year age group, coached the American women’s team in China (twice), earned a trip to Ireland for winning the ST. Pat’s race in Reading, PA., and ran races in Korea, Mexico, and Europe. She came in fourth in the trials for the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, but when one of the top three finishers was injured, she found herself on the team. During the race, Barb was the sole U.S. finisher. She is a member of the PA Hall of Fame (Erie Branch), inducted along with Freddie Biletnikoff Barb still runs and is very active in the Erie community. Just more food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing! If this idea, the 5k, were ever to happen, the Barb Filutze angle would be a great one. Thank you for making a "connection" that I simply wasn't aware of. This idea (5k) is on the back burner, but maybe it just got moved up a notch or two. In the meantime, I'm going to learn more about Ms. Filutze. Thanks for your input!
ReplyDelete