YMCA of Talbot County - Talbot Kids Fun Run 2008

Talbot Kids Fun Run, Saturday, March 8, 2008

North Easton Sportsplex (on the "Rails-to-Trails" trails), Easton, Maryland

The off-and-on rains of the day and the cloudy skies did not stop close-to in not over a hundred participants from coming out to participate in the Talbot Kids Fun Run last Saturday in Easton. The staff and volunteers (many of which were from the YMCA of Talbot County in Easton) were just as tenacious in putting on the event, and a great number of them showed up. Fortunately it did not rain (at least not very hard) during the races or post-race ceremonies.

This event had two distances that started simultaneously at around 1 P.M. There was a one-mile for children ages 4-6 and then a three-mile distance for those seven or older (although a lot of participants seemed to agree that the flat, shaded and well-staffed course was probably much shorter than three-miles). The out-and-back course was pretty much straight, crossing a neighborhood street (that was well-staffed with traffic/course marshals) near the beginning of the route and near the end of it. There were one or two wooden bridges on the course as well, otherwise it was pretty much well-paved bikepaths.

The event was a fun fundraiser for Camp Lazy Days, a program put on by this YMCA. The Talbot Kids Fun Run has been going on for the past several years.

"I think it was great," said E, camp director and a coordinator for the Talbot Kids Fun Run at the YMCA of Talbot County in Easton. "We raised over $6,000 for Camp Lazy Days."

In the one-mile among the younger girls, Evelyn Campbell finished first followed by second place Kate Povis and third place Harper Melton. Among the younger boys in the one-mile, Matt Daniels finished first followed by second place Dylan Shreve and third place Jay Albrecht.

In the three-mile race, Stephanie Bazel was one of the first female finishers. Noah Wood was the first runner in for the three-mile race, followed by second place Curt Hutchison, and third place Mike Keene (16:57), who helped put on last year's inaugural Bridge-to-Bridge Half-Marathon in the St. Michael's area of Talbot County, MD last April.

"I think it's nice to have a race this early in the spring to come right out of winter," said Darryl Calloway, who ran this event for the first time and finished fourth overall in the three-mile race with a time of 17:30. "It's a good transition into the spring."

Many children and adults enjoyed this family-oriented event, whihc has drawn over 300-400 participants in the past. The event is not timed (unless you time yourself, which was how I was able to find out some of the other runners' times), and this year there were some issues with the order of finish, so I do not think I am able to accurately display all of the participants' names in the results at this moment aside from top finishers. Aside from that, this event is wonderful and it raised so much money. Children even won awards and honorable mentions for dressing up in St. Patrick's Day attire/costumes. The Talbot Kids Fun Run event was a fine example of how many people can come together and contribute towards a beneficial cause, despite rainy weather!


Talbot Kids Fun Run 1-Mile Results:

Girls:

1. Evelyn Campbell
2. Kate Povis
3. Harper Melton

Boys:

1. Matt Daniels
2. Dylan Shreve
3. Jay Albrecht

Talbot Kids Fun Run "3-mile" results

Females:
1. Stephanie Bazel

Males:
1. Noah Wood
2. Curt Hutchison
3. Mike Keene - 16:57
4. Darryl Calloway - 17:30


Hopefully photos of this event will come soon!