AUBURN #- The Citizen Downtown Auburn Mile draws a wide variety of seasoned runners, young children, serious competitors and those just out to have a little fun on a summer evening.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
George Cramer releases doves outside The Citizen offices on Dill Street at the start of The Citizen Downtown Auburn Mile on Friday evening. The doves returned to Cramer's Auburn residence.
George Cramer releases doves outside The Citizen offices on Dill Street at the start of The Citizen Downtown Auburn Mile on Friday evening. The doves returned to Cramer's Auburn residence.
Despite only being 10, David Paleczny, of Auburn, said that the race has been a long-standing tradition for him, one that he hasn't missed in years.
“I've been running in this since I was 5,” Paleczny said. “My family got me into it, I just like to get out and run and have fun.”
Other young racers were making their debut this year.
Jonathan Bell, 11, of Auburn, was among the many people who decided to give the run a shot this year after hearing about it from friends and family.
“I just thought it would be fun to do,” Bell said. “And it was a lot of fun just to get out and run for a while, it was a really good time.”
While the race certainly draws some
serious runners, like this year's overall winners, Chris Mason and Mary Bushallow, both of whom have made running one of the major passions of their lives, it is also an event that is meant to get the casual runner out and exercising.
Peggy Lattimore, who said that she has run in many races but had never entered the Downtown Mile before, ran this year with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth Springer.
“I was going to do this by myself this year,” Lattimore said. “I just love to run and I thought it would be a lot of fun.”
But when Lattimore asked her young granddaughter to join her, she said Elizabeth was ecstatic about the idea of running with grandma.
“She got her own number and everything,” Lattimore said. “I think it is great they do things like this. It is a really nice family friendly run, and it is great to see the children out here and taking part in something like this.”
Other runners, like Robert Culver, 16, of Auburn, are members of the high school cross country team and use the race as a means to get into the flow of competitive running again.
“This is my third year,” Culver said. “It is a lot of fun. We train to run a 5K, so running a mile is a little different, but it is a good challenge and I love to run.”
After the race concluded, the festivities continued well into the evening with a performance by the band Alibi in the park across from another of this year's sponsors, the Knights of Columbus.
Steve Komenacky, one of the race's coordinators, said that it is through the support of all the numerous sponsors and volunteers that the YMCA is able to make this race happen year after year.
For many of the runners, the festivities after the race are just as much fun as the race itself.
“It is great,” Jack Kavanagh said. “It is a lot of fun and a real big social event, music and everything and you get to see a lot of people. It is a really good time.”
“I've been running in this since I was 5,” Paleczny said. “My family got me into it, I just like to get out and run and have fun.”
Other young racers were making their debut this year.
Jonathan Bell, 11, of Auburn, was among the many people who decided to give the run a shot this year after hearing about it from friends and family.
“I just thought it would be fun to do,” Bell said. “And it was a lot of fun just to get out and run for a while, it was a really good time.”
While the race certainly draws some
serious runners, like this year's overall winners, Chris Mason and Mary Bushallow, both of whom have made running one of the major passions of their lives, it is also an event that is meant to get the casual runner out and exercising.
Peggy Lattimore, who said that she has run in many races but had never entered the Downtown Mile before, ran this year with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth Springer.
“I was going to do this by myself this year,” Lattimore said. “I just love to run and I thought it would be a lot of fun.”
But when Lattimore asked her young granddaughter to join her, she said Elizabeth was ecstatic about the idea of running with grandma.
“She got her own number and everything,” Lattimore said. “I think it is great they do things like this. It is a really nice family friendly run, and it is great to see the children out here and taking part in something like this.”
Other runners, like Robert Culver, 16, of Auburn, are members of the high school cross country team and use the race as a means to get into the flow of competitive running again.
“This is my third year,” Culver said. “It is a lot of fun. We train to run a 5K, so running a mile is a little different, but it is a good challenge and I love to run.”
After the race concluded, the festivities continued well into the evening with a performance by the band Alibi in the park across from another of this year's sponsors, the Knights of Columbus.
Steve Komenacky, one of the race's coordinators, said that it is through the support of all the numerous sponsors and volunteers that the YMCA is able to make this race happen year after year.
For many of the runners, the festivities after the race are just as much fun as the race itself.
“It is great,” Jack Kavanagh said. “It is a lot of fun and a real big social event, music and everything and you get to see a lot of people. It is a really good time.”
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.