2ND ANNUAL LEAKY WADERS 1K FUN RUN
Saturday, April 24th – Registration @ 10:00am – Starting Gun @ 11:00am – A fun one kilometer (1k) run in CHEST WADERS @ Lovells Township Grounds, 8405 Twin Bridge Rd, Grayling (F97 just north of CO 612). Event Fee: $20.00 includes the run, t-shirt and lunch at the River Guide Tent. Call Glen Eberly to register – (989) 348-3084.
The Origin of the Leaky Waders 1K Fun Run
The Leaky Wader 1K Fun Run was born out of the Naperville, Illinois “5K Turkey Trot” held every Thanksgiving Day in which 4,000 runners participate. Glen and Martha Eberly were visiting their daughter over Thanksgiving in 2008 and Glen ran the 5K with his daughter and her family. The event was sold out. And after the race Eberly said, “Wow – 4,000 runners at $25.00 each. That is a lot of money!! We need to do something like that for our Historical Society in Lovells!
That evening after a delicious traditional turkey dinner, the discussion turned to creating an event in Lovells for the Historical Society. After many ideas were tossed around, a decision was made to hold a race during the Annual Trout Opener, held every year on the last Saturday of April. In keeping with the theme of a Trout Opener and since the route was across the Au Sable North Branch, someone suggested the runners wear waders. Grandson Robbie Aitken checked Google Earth and notified us that the distance from a starting line between Caid’s Store and the Riverside Tavern to a finish line at the Township grounds was exactly one kilometer.
We played around with a fitting race name and “The First Annual Leaky Wader 1K Fun Run” was a unanimous choice. There it was, all dreamed up in about one hour.
The First Annual Leaky Wader 1K Fun Run was held on the Trout Opener, April 25th in 2009. Forty runners, decked out in a variety of waders, broke at the bark of the starter’s pistol and headed west on CO612, across the North Branch at the Lovells Bridge and then north on Twin Bridge Rd. to the finish line at the Township grounds.
The first place winner, Rick Linder from Chicago and who had actually run some marathons, captured the spirit of the 1K Fun Run in an interview after his victory. Linder said, “The Long-Shaw Running Club has a long tradition of excellence. Founded earlier that day, after a pre-race breakfast of biscuits and gravy, we strive to dominate the ultra-competitive category of 1K wader racing in the greater Lovells area. We pride ourselves in the intense dedication, training and friendliness necessary to compete in the highest echelons of 1K wader racing.” Another member of the Long-Shaw Marsh Running Club, George A. Shaw, tied for second place. The women’s winner was Dr. Wendy Frye of Gaylord, a seasoned runner. Both first place winners have their names etched on a permanent plaque that is on display in the Trout Fishing Museum. All runners were given a race tee shirt and a free lunch at the Trout Opener.
The 2015 Leaky Wader 1K Fun Run marks our 7th year of competition in this novel and enjoyable event. Come run with us or at least be part of the spectators to this fun event.
