Runners from across the United States and several foreign countries will fill Abilene April 2 for the third annual Eisenhower Marathon, with race profits benefiting the Dickinson County Chapter of the American Red Cross and other nonprofits countywide.

"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," coordinator June DeWeese said.
"The course is certified by USA Track and Field, and will once again be a qualifier for the Boston Marathon."

In addition to the marathon, half-marathon and team relay marathon, which all begin at 7 a.m., the event this year includes 5K and 10K races which start at 7:15 and a community walk which begins at 8 a.m. Children's races will begin at 10 a.m. All adults receive an event T-shirt with their entry and medals are given to the top three runners in each age category for all running events. Overall winners in marathon and half- marathon races earn cash prizes totaling $2650.

"We want everyone in the community to feel able to participate in these healthy events," DeWeese said. "Our children's races will be more narrowly age categorized than last year, and we're hoping for a large turnout. All children will earn certificates for their participation."

Awards will be handled differently this year. Instead of one awards ceremony at 1:30, several smaller ceremonies will allow 5 and 10K race winners to be recognized at 9:30-10:30 a.m. and marathoners to be recognized in ceremonies throughout the morning.

"Many of our runners were not able to stay for awards because they had to catch planes in KC or Wichita at early afternoon hours," DeWeese said. "This revised awards program will allow runners to eat some pancakes, receive their awards and still make their plane connections."

In addition to the 450 volunteers assisting with the event in 2004, several organizations will join in the activities this year. The Daughters of Isabella will be providing the Friday evening pasta dinner in St. Andrews School Gym. The public is invited with tickets selling for $6 for adults and $3 for children. Kiwanis Club members will provide the race day brunch, serving all-you-can-eat pancakes and a serving of sausage for $4.

"We are so very appreciative of the effort other nonprofit organizations are making to help us with the marathon event!" DeWeese said. "We hope numerous Abilene residents will join in the fun and participate in the meals being served."

Trinity Lutheran Church is again collecting donations through their team of church walkers who will participate in the event. Aid stations are to be manned by Masons, AHS Pep Band, AHS National Honor Society, several 4-H clubs and church groups.

"We are still making contacts, and the list of local organizations participating will increase in upcoming weeks," DeWeese said. "It is exciting to see so many folks from the Abilene area enjoying this special event!"

Several of the largest web sites in the nation are promoting the marathon, including Marathon Guide, Runners World, Running USA, Running Times, Road Runners Club of America, and USA Track and Field. Typing Eisenhower Marathon to any search engine, will produce many thousands of listings with most of them describing the Eisenhower in Abilene.

"Our event now has its own website and folks can access it at www.eisenhowermarathon.com," DeWeese said. "Runners can also register for the marathon on line and pay by credit card by going through www.marathonguide.com. Then, of course, we advertise heavily in Oklahoma Runner, Colorado Runner, Arkansas Runner, and other publications in Nebraska, Texas and Missouri."

Runners will follow the same course as in previous years, 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. April 2

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."

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.

"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."

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.

Corporate sponsors for the marathon include Brierton Engineering, Grainger Industrial Supplies, KABI/KSAL and the Viola Family.

"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."

"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. "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."

Other 2005 Articles

• Barrett Feature
• Bartoletti Feature
• Kotulski Feature

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