During the month of April, local runners do not have to travel far in order to run excellent races featuring great competition for worthy causes.
The spring racing season kicks off with the largest field of runners ever to run the streets of Schuylkill County as the third annual Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K will take place Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville.
Unlike most races, don’t expect to show up on race day and register to run the race. The race is limited to 3,000 runners, and the entry list filled up a mere two weeks after registration opened in December.
Runners will receive a Yuengling Light Lager Jogger branded pint glass, official race T-shirt, two free Yuengling Light Lagers (for those age 21 and older), free brewery tours and admission to the post-race party.
The course is challenging, to say the least.
Competitors begin the race by scaling a nearly one-mile hill, from the brewery to 19th and Mahantongo streets, before a short downhill takes them to Norwegian Street. After a brief flat period, it’s back up another hill to Mahantongo Street, then another nosebleed to Howard Avenue, with the reward of a final one-mile downhill to the finish.
Needless to say, the race is not for the feint-of-heart, and will probably not produce a personal best time.
The post-race party is magnificent, and $2 from every race registration will go directly to Operation Gratitude to help fund the creation and shipping of care packages oversees.
If you missed the entry deadline for 2015, plan on participating in the 2016 race. For details, visit www.lagerjogger.com.
• The following Saturday, April 18, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Island Park in Schuylkill Haven, The Paterno Family and Island Park 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run will be held.
This flat, fast course begins and ends at Island Park and is run through the neighborhoods of Schuylkill Haven.
There could hardly be a more worthy cause.
Proceeds from the event will be used by Special Olympics of Schuylkill County to provide year-round training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
For additional information and an entry blank, email islandrun5k@gmail.com, or call Kathy Roth at (570) 294-2423.
• The fifth annual Color Fusion 5K run will be held Sunday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in Deer Lake, with proceeds benefitting the National MS Society.
The race will be run in Deer Lake Borough. It is a flat course, with a challenging hill around the 2-mile mark in the race. For an entry blank and more information, visit www.deerlake5k.com.
• Many local runners, as well as runners from around the country will participate in these fine Schuylkill County races during April. Four local runners, however, will travel north for Patriot’s Day on Monday, April 20, as they join 30,000 other competitors in the annual running of the Boston Marathon.
Schuylkill Haven’s Rick Devaney, New Ringgold residents Mary Bosack and Lisa George, as well as Ringtown’s Janene Ferrara will participate in the 119th running of this iconic race.
All of us wish them good weather and good luck at Boston.
The month of May is filled with many local races. We’ll cover them in our May column.
(Muldowney is an avid runner and retired educator)