First annual HSJ Online Run-Walk another story of Hope success

The HSJ Online Hope Run/Walk #1 on the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Campus was another success story for the Town of Hope.

There were 47 runners or walkers including those in strollers and even a few children no longer in strollers but on foot scooters. It was a beautiful day for the event.

As I was talking with a family who brought their 11-year-old daughter, Dinah McCartney, to participate for her first time in a 5K, I was thinking of the Olympic story of Molly Seidel from the United States who won a bronze medal in the marathon after running 26 miles with a time of 2:27:46. In fourth grade, she wrote that one day she would like to be in the Olympics. Who knows what the future holds for Dinah? When working with fifth graders at Hope Elementary, we would always make it a priority to discuss the importance of following our dreams.

It was great to talk with a Hauser graduate, Bradly Dickens, who drove from Castleton. While at Hauser, he started running and a writing career with the “Hope Star-Journal” and Charlie Biggs covering sports. He now has a high interest in writing “Where Are They Now” articles for “HSJ Online” in the near future.

There were several families well represented, including the Ken Chandler and Jake Miller families. It was good to see them walking together and one of the reasons why we chose to make it rather informal and call it a 5Kish. And it was good to see some individual runners competing against the different elements of the cross country course while checking their time.

As for all events, there are many people to thank:

• Todd Grimes, “HSJ Online” writer and avid runner, who suggested the 5Kish
• Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. School Board, Superintendent Shawn Price, Athletic Director Tyler Phillips, Transportation/Maintenance Director Jim Tedder
• Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. for promoting the event on their wonderful electronic sign
• “HSJ Online” Team Members who helped in a variety of ways
• Special By Design, WILLow LeaVes, Henry Chiropractic, Hoosier Sporting Goods, White River Running for providing distribution points for registration forms
• Jenni Richards, Reflections, for being one of our best promoters
• John Foster, WCSI, for helping us get the word out through an interview
• The Hope EDIT Committee and Hope Town Council for the HOPE bracelets
• Local stores for agreeing to give special offers for participants on that day wearing the HOPE bracelets: Corner Cafe, Gold Nugget, KJ Goats, Snappy Tomato, Special By Design, Swiss Maid, Tonala, & WILLow LeaVes
• My daughter, Haley, for making the suggestion about asking stores to help
• Coach Finke & Coach Schoen for furnishing orange course marker cones
• Avery Tallent for sharing music at the track, the very beginning of the course
• The Hope Police Department for helping keep runners/walkers safe
• Chaplain Ed Cottrell, EMT, for being there just in case needed
• Those who could not run or walk but who ordered a shirt
• Our sponsors: Raymond James, Deckard Tool & Engineering, Ken & Michele Seim, Julian & Debbie Smith, and Don & Patsy Harris (Due to their generosity, the “HSJ Online” profit margin increased, and we were able to give more to the Hauser Athletic Department)

And we can't thank the 47 runners and walkers enough who took the time to be with us our first year, for helping “HSJ Online” to keep our pages turning!