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Mill Creek runners ready for spring
By JOHN BASSETTI
YOUNGSTOWN
About a month ago on a Sunday, park naturalist Carol Vigorito led a 5-mile walking tour through deep snow, starting at Scholl Pavilion, down to Lanterman’s Mill, along the Flats, over the Silver Bridge and back to the old Kirkmere area.
Along the way, she would occasionally stop the group of about a dozen to point out various places of interest or to identify the origin of unusual paw or claw prints.
So, come Sunday morning, could you imagine Vigorito’s group sighting a slew of runners flying past as if they’d just been released from Old Man Winter’s clutches?
If so, the park naturalist would have to explain that the Youngstown Road Runners Club is having its 21st annual Mill Creek Distance Classic half-marathon and 5K.
She’d have to explain that the event on the first Sunday of March is a sure sign of spring and kicks off the local road-running season.
That most of the half-marathon participants are from the Cleveland/Akron area or Pittsburgh.
That some of them use it as a tune-up for the Boston Marathon in April.
That the cost is $30 for the 13.1-miler and $20 for the 3.1-mile (5K).
Chuck Miller, a YRRC official who will be working as a volunteer during Sunday’s races, said 600 runners are expected for both distances.
“People like the challenge of the park’s courses and some just like the ambiance of the park itself,” Miller said.
Although Sunday’s temperature should be about 43, weather for the annual runs can be unpredictable, Miller said.
“A couple years ago, it was so icy that we were sliding around like Penguins or falling down at the starting line, but we just got up, brushed ourselves off and ran 13 miles,” Miller said.
“Last year, it was pouring rain,” he added.
Whether the skies are icy or whether they’re nice, Miller plans to add some spice.
As a YRRC volunteer in charge of a water stop along the race route, Miller and co-workers will wear costumes with a “Wizard of Oz” theme.
“One of us will be Dorothy, one a wicked witch as well as the other characters of the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man.”
The crew wouldn’t be complete without Toto.
“Oh yeah, we’ll have a Toto, too,” Miller said of a token dog to bark in the park.
“We’re hoping to give runners some inspiration or a good laugh, although there aren’t too many smiling,” Miller said of those who’ll pass his watering station twice — at the 4-mile and 10-mile marks.
Races begin at Wick Recreation.