Peace Race was a success

Peace Race was a success

EDITOR:

I want to commend the City of Youngstown for having the Peace Race again, for the 35th year.

This was my second Peace Race and it really is one of the nicest races in our area.

Everything about the race from the people behind the scenes to the finish line ranks above the rest.

Second Sole in Boardman and the Roadrunners Club of Youngstown and all the other sponsors should get a first place ribbon for all of their efforts.

The night before the race Second Sole had a very good inspirational speaker come to town. I wish more people would have gotten a chance to hear Dick Beardsley. He was a world class runner who came in second during the 1982 Boston Marathon in one of the closest marathons ever. His talk was about his life as a runner and his life as it is today after what he had to go through and “staying the course” (as one of his books is titled).

His talk inspired me and carried me during the race. There were many runners young and old who ran in the Peace Race. I ran with a friend of mine and his son whom I had met at last year’s race and I appreciated their kindness and patience with me and my running ability.

It was great to see all the people unite for something good in Youngstown. As I was nearing the end of the race I came upon one of the water stops the race committee had set up and children from Fairhaven School were passing out water. When I reached out to grab a water, I could have just reached out and hugged those kids. They were so excited to hand us all a drink and to make us feel good. That’s the kind of people we have here who make up the Peace Race.

TONY BALL

Hubbard