First News
Eisenhower Marathon

Abilene will be filled with runners once again at the Eisenhower Marathon March 27, 2004, with race profits benefiting the Dickinson County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

"We had so much fun with the marathon last year," Red Cross director June Viola DeWeese said.  "The Viola family is coming back to Abilene to host the event again this year, and the community is gearing up for all the volunteer activities needed to run the day."

Marathon inquiries are coming in from across the United States, Canada, England, France and Africa with the first official entries coming from Hawaii, Maryland, Florida and Washington state.

"The course is certified by USA Track and Field, and will once again be a qualifier for the Boston Marathon," DeWeese said.  "It is always a Boston qualifier for the following year's race, so runners this year qualify for the Boston 2005."

Several of the largest web sites in the nation are promoting the marathon, including Marathon Guide, Runners World, Running Network, Running Times, Road Runners Club of America, and USA Track and Field.

"When you type in Eisenhower Marathon to any search engine, you will get nearly 4,000 entries with a huge number of the listings being the Abilene Marathon," DeWeese said.  "When I checked the first 100 listings, 67 of them were about our race.  It's fun reading if you have a free evening to browse the web."

Dickinson County's Red Cross Chapter web site also provides information about the race at http://dickinsoncounty.redcross.org.  Runners can also register for the marathon on line and pay by credit card by going through www.marathonguide.com .

Runners will follow the same course as in 2003, winding through territory cattlemen followed when bringing herds to Abilene on the Chisholm Trail in the 1800s.  The race begins on Buckeye, between the Eisenhower Center and St. Andrews Catholic Church, goes south on Highway 15, through Brown Memorial Park, south to Rural Center and west on 1400 Avenue for a couple of miles to the turnaround point.  The course is out-and-back the same route. 

Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Dickinson County Sheriff's office, the Abilene Police and the Central Kansas Amateur Radio Operators are all joining again in meeting marathon needs as traffic is detoured from Highway 15 for a 6-hour period, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

"We will have strong volunteer forces and signs on Buckeye to direct customers to South Buckeye businesses as easily as possible," DeWeese said.  "The City of Abilene is allowing us to put wooden signs down the middle of Buckeye directing cars and trucks to detour and reach the south businesses."

Cars needing to reach the businesses on south Buckeye will be directed to turn east on south Third Street (north of the Eisenhower Center), travel east to Campbell, then south to south 6th Street and back west to Buckeye.  Runners will use the west two lanes of Buckeye and vehicles traveling to businesses will use the east two lanes, one lane going north and one lane going south.

Semi trucks needing to reach south Buckeye businesses will be asked to turn west at the corner of Buckeye and 1st Street and travel west to Cedar Street, then south to 7th Street and use volunteer assistance to cross runner lanes to get to the businesses needed.  Volunteers will be posted at every crossing to assist vehicles and assure runner safety.

"We appreciate the cooperation from the entire community living south of town in helping with marathon needs," DeWeese said.  "Many families went to the ends of their driveways to cheer runners last year, and the runners were thrilled!  I hope residents will invite extended family and friends to join them at their driveways this year.  These runners are coming in from all over the world, and they are grateful to receive a huge Kansas welcome from residents."

The Eisenhower Marathon provides nearly $3,000 in cash prizes to runners.  In addition to the $500 first place award for men and for women, second-place male and female finishers will receive $300, and third-place awards will be $200 for the marathon.  Half-marathon finishers will receive $150, $100 and $75 for first, second and third places respectively for both men and women.  All marathon finishers medal and first, second, and third place medals are given to the different age brackets in the marathon and half marathon.

If individuals are not long distance runners, they can join a 5-member team of runners, four of whom will run 6.2 miles with one running 1.4 miles.  Runners who don't have a complete team can notify race coordinators who will join them with others wanting to participate in the team relay.  Members can then get acquainted with their team members at the pasta dinner Friday night before the race.

"One of the churches is considering setting up a relay team within their membership, with more than five members participating in the route," DeWeese said.  "They won't go through the start/finish line, but they will cover the course, collecting donations for Red Cross to sponsor their team.  What a great effort they are making to help their neighbors in crisis!"

A pasta supper will welcome runners and their families Friday evening at St. Andrews Parish Hall.

"We have some of the best cooks in the county fixing oven spaghetti for the Friday dinner," DeWeese said. "Members of the general public can meet some of the runners and attend the supper by purchasing advance tickets at a $6 charge for adults, $3 for children-under-12.  Local musicians will again entertain at the supper."

Following the race on Saturday, runners will be treated to a sandwich lunch, also at St Andrew's Parish Hall.  General public wanting to join in at lunchtime can buy advance tickets at $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. 

The awards ceremony will be at 1:30 p.m. with members of the Eisenhower and Viola families distributing the awards.  A volunteer reception will follow from 3-5 p.m.

"Last year, our volunteers had such fun, they wanted to share their stories, some saying they were disappointed when the event was over,"  DeWeese said,  "so we thought they might like to have a couple of hours to share experiences with others Saturday afternoon."

Volunteers are still needed in various areas for the marathon.  Interested individuals could call 263-2341, fill out a volunteer form at the Red Cross office at 206 N. Broadway, or send an e-mail request for information to redcross@access-one.com.  Each member of the Red Cross Board of Directors is also assisting with the event.  An estimated 500 volunteers will be involved this year.

"We're also hoping large numbers of spectators will come down to the start/finish line to cheer the runners," DeWeese said.   "It was really cold last year, but we still had a great time.  John Snitko from Iowa will provide computer chip timing at the finish line, so results will be posted quite rapidly several times throughout the race."

Dickinson County's 4-H Council will be serving an outdoor concession, and the Children and Families Coalition will set up a booth so those attending can "Make Your Own First Aid Kit."  Children's races are currently being organized with Big Brothers/Big Sisters selling finish-line pictures of the youth.

"We are encouraging other non-profits to look for ways they can profit from the event," DeWeese said.  "We have asked those non-profits who are wanting to set up an activity near the start/finish line to communicate with us so it can be easily organized."

T-Works at Chapman High School will again make the runner and volunteer shirts.  Members of the public may purchase extra shirts for $10 the day of the race.

Morris Communications will be broadcasting the race, allowing Dickinson County residents to listen to the event on KABI radio.  Individuals worldwide may go to www.EBCLINK.com and listen to the broadcast.

"The web site provides a great opportunity for sponsors to be recognized worldwide," DeWeese said.

Corporate sponsors are currently being solicited for the event.   Race directors hope to have sponsorships for all areas of the event, so that runner's entry fees can be used to assist families in crisis in Dickinson County.

"It costs a great deal of money to sponsor an event of this size," DeWeese said.  "Many marathons are not profit makers, and the Eisenhower Marathon would not be, either, if it weren't for the dedication of this community and area businesses toward helping families who are facing desperate situations. Whether serving at disasters, at the hospital, with Armed Forces Emergency Services, blood drive organization, or our local assistance program for families in crisis, Dickinson County's Red Cross can be counted on when needed thanks to profits from the marathon and donations from across the county."

Viola family goals are for the entire county to profit from the marathon, as hotels fill and restaurants, service stations and other area businesses profit from runner trade.  The City of Abilene's transient guest tax generated more funds during the first quarter of 2003 than any first quarter in the last six years, according to a convention and visitors bureau release.

"If we can continue to bring in runner dollars into the county from all over the world, everyone in the county should benefit," DeWeese said.