Running underneath the breathtaking spectacle of gigantic light bulb-shaped hot air balloons peppering the sky added to the atmosphere of Greater Midland Races’ Run The River 5K on August 6. It is so awe-inspiring, you might not even care if it takes you longer to finish. CLICK FOR RACE RESULTS.
Spencer Waldmann, 22-years-old of Bullock Creek finished first in the men’s run with a time of 17:27.
“One year I stopped and took a picture in the middle of the race,” Rae Ann LaFrance of Midland said. “This race I don't do for time. Not that I'm fast, I'm not, but I'll just be looking at the balloons going overhead. I love the balloons.”
Paired with Midland Area Community Foundation’s River Days event, each race participant receives a pint glass, thanks to the sponsor Preferred Chiropractic of Midland, and also receives a drink ticket for the Rotary Beer & Wine Tent.
“I think one of the core parts of River Days is not only inclusion but also neighboring, which is all about bringing people together. I think it's very poetic that we hold this festival and a lot of these accompanying events, such as Run the River, right here by the Tridge, at the convergence of the Chippewa and Tittabawassee rivers.” Kevin LaDuke, MACF Communications Officer said. “There really is a lot of collaboration that goes into River Days. It's more than just the Midland Area Community Foundation. Greater Midland is involved, all of our food trucks, the City of Midland, the Midland Balloon Fest. It is a labor of love to see so many different organizations coming together for a common cause of providing events for the community.”
Almost 270 runners and walkers dotted the Chippewa Trail as they ran and walked their way back to the finish line. Visiting Midland from 45 different Michigan communities and even two from Minnesota. This group was out for a fun-filled evening in Downtown Midland.
"This race is like no other,” Jennifer Adamcik, Race Director said. "Where else can you run on a winding paved trail through softball diamonds, marshes, fields, and woods, then end at a 3-legged bridge, watch hot air balloons, listen to live music, people watch, enjoy a beverage, and be entertained all evening long; all for the cost of the race? Midland. It is one of the most giving communities you'll ever visit!"
“It's just a great time to be out here. Especially an evening race. We're going to go have dinner later, walk the streets a little bit, see what's going on, and just talk to people and have a good time. We're from Saginaw and this is the third year we stayed at a hotel (in Midland),” Manny Sanchez said.
For some participants, this was their first race since March of 2020 when races started getting canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We haven't seen each other in a year...year and a half. It's just fun to see people back, smiling again, having optimism and hope. It inspires people to get outside and get back to normal as much as we can,” Sanchez said.
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Interested in joining a Greater Midland race? Find out more information about the Loons Pennant Race (Aug. 20) powered by Disability Network of Mid-Michigan and the Dow RunWalk (Sept. 18) at greatermidland.org/races.
