Cooler weather was greeted warmly by participants in the sixth annual Mill Race Marathon, making for a more enjoyable experience than last year.
Temperatures in the low- and mid-60s throughout Saturday morning and afternoon made for comfortable conditions for the 3,181 finishers of all three running events, and caused no significant medical issues unlike last year.
Laura (Chasse) Dudukovich, the lead on the race planning committee, noted that radios used to monitor the event and listen for problems were silent throughout the races.
“It was so quiet, but that is awesome because that means everything went as planned,” she said.
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This year the marathon had 202 finishers, the half-marathon 1,464 and the 5K 1,515.
Last year, 3,667 people total registered for the three races, but hot, humid conditions with temperatures that climbed into the 80s caused more than 300 to beg off running or fail to complete the event they entered.
Randy Stafford, a race planning committee member, said all he can think is that the memory of the heat last year caused fewer people to register, and when cooler temperatures were projected it was too late for those who run longer races to fit the event into their schedule.
Many race participants said the cooler weather helped boost their overall performance.
Indianapolis resident Trena Roudebush, who completed the marathon, thought running conditions were good for participants, and personally thought she performed better due to the cooler weather.
She used the Mill Race Marathon to prepare herself for the Boston Marathon, which she plans to run in 2020, she said.
“After such a hot and humid summer, this is perfect,” Roudebush said. “It’s a good time of year and the volunteers are amazing.”
Columbus resident Paul Wright, who competed in the half-marathon, said the weather was perfect for his fifth time participating.
“It’s great to see so many people come to Columbus,” Wright said.
Scipio resident Bruce Fischvogt participated in the 5K with his 12-year-old granddaughter Autumn Fischvogt, also of Scipio. Both said the cooler weather was a positive factor that allowed runners to pace themselves.
“If it’s cooler, it’s better,” Autumn Fischvogt said. “It’s easier to run.”
Bruce Fischvogt said he has participated in races in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Florida, all with different weather conditions, but said this year’s Mill Race Marathon was enjoyable.
“The weather made it the nicest,” he said. “This is ideal.”
The cooler weather impacted the overall number of people that were seen at the race’s medical tent at Fourth and Franklin streets, marathon medical director Jen Hoskins said.
Medical personnel saw about 30 to 40 runners primarily for sprains or minor vomiting, Hoskins said. A year ago, about 80 race participants made their way to the tent facing cuts, abrasions and dehydration, but those weren’t an issue this year, she added.
“People were really affected by the heat last year, especially the half-marathoners,” Hoskins said.
Individuals crossing the finish line found themselves greeted by spectators who clapped or cheered them on. Among those watching race participants go by was Columbus resident Meri Knight.
She held up a sign of support for her sister, Melanie Arnold, who was participating in the half-marathon for the first time, and had traveled to Columbus from Delaware.
“It’s such a celebration of the human spirit,” Knight said of the marathon. “It’s really amazing, very inspiring.”
Arnold said she was using the event in Columbus in hopes of completing races in all 50 states, noting that the Mill Race Marathon was her seventh race so far.
Columbus resident Tina Allen and her son Kyle ran in the 5K race, and returned to the Mill Race Marathon for the third straight year. Kyle Allen, a seventh-grader at Central Middle School, pointed to favorable weather conditions that resulted in a better performance.
Tina Allen, who plans to participate in the half-marathon next year, said what brings them back every year is the atmosphere and the amount of support runners receive. She added that it also is an opportunity to meet people.
“You get all kinds of personalities,” she said.
One of the course marshals, Dave Venable, who also is on the race planning committee, said the volunteer support and atmosphere he saw in the zone he worked made the event enjoyable.
Veteran volunteers were able to quickly shift to priority areas. And, Columbus North’s cheer squad encouraged runners in the area of 13th to 15th streets, Venable said.
“It’s always great to have someone cheer you on,” he added.
Venable worked in the area from 10th Street and Gladstone Avenue to 23rd Street and Gladstone Avenue. He said one of the hot spots was Donner Park, where a band, Poor Man’s Version, played music and Upland Brewery had a cheer tent.
“That was a lot of fun. It was nice to ave people cheering on runners and having something for the spectators that was a little more fun to do,” Venable said.
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More coverage inside A section and B section (sports)
Top-finisher results inside today’s Republic
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Complete results online at millracemarathon.com
Marathon photo galleries at therepublic.com
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