Eisenhower Marathon, April 11, 2009
First news

Registrations are rolling in from across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and Canada for the 7th annual Eisenhower Marathon in Abilene April 11, with race profits benefiting nonprofits in Dickinson County who are helping families and children in need.

“Members of the R.H. Viola host family are returning again to Abilene to help in organizing the event, and the Abilene area is gearing up for all the volunteer activities needed to run the day,” Viola Family Foundation board president Dustin DeWeese said.  “Since the course is sanctioned and certified by USA Track and Field, it will once again be a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.”

Currently three Canadian runners are registered with numerous requests coming in from other countries, according to DeWeese.   Runners from 28 states are registered already, with expectations that number will increase to 30-35 states by race day.

“We enjoy bringing dollars to Dickinson County from across the United States,” DeWeese said.  “With the current economy challenged, those extra dollars in the hands of Dickinson County nonprofits will help many families and individuals in need.”

In addition to the marathon and half-marathon races, which begin at 7 a.m., and 5K/10K races, which begin at 7:30 a.m., the event includes a community walk, beginning at 9 a.m., and children’s races which begin at 11 a.m.  Runners in the major events receive T-shirts and finisher medals, and medals are given to the top three runners in each age category.   Children receive ribbons for their participation.

“Overall winners in marathon and half-marathon races earn trophies and cash prizes totaling $2650,” DeWeese said.  “The male winner for the last three years, Gannon White, is returning from Colorado, and last year’s female winner, Debbie Cropper from Alaska, is hoping to return, also.”

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 2.2 miles to the turnaround point, then returns to Abilene on the same route in reverse.

Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, Dickinson County Sheriff’s office, Abilene Police, Abilene City Commissioners, Dickinson County Commissioners and Central Kansas Amateur Radio Operators all join in meeting marathon needs as traffic is detoured from Highway 15 for a 6-hour period on marathon day.

In addition to several hundred volunteers assisting with the event, many nonprofit organizations will join in the activities.  The Daughters of Isabella and Knights of Columbus will provide the Friday evening pasta dinner at Parish Hall.  In addition local Kiwanis Club members will provide the race-day pancake and sausage brunch Saturday morning from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Tickets are available at the door for both meals.

In 2008, 15 nonprofits shared in marathon profits, with most of them coordinating and working different portions of the event.  An added 9 nonprofits helped with water/aid stations and security on the course.

Leos adult leader Kristi Engle helped coordinate security at intersections, Beta member Terri Barlow coordinated water/aid station teams and Lions member Larry Coulson organized volunteers for the finish line.  In addition, Breakfast Optimist members helped with signage on the course, First United Methodist Passion In Action committee members worked at the marathon turnaround and Dickinson County Arts Council members worked at the turnaround point for the half marathon.

Kansas Kids In Crisis volunteers organized and ran the various tables needed at Parish Hall where meals are served and awards presented.  Children and Families Coalition supervised the team of volunteers needed in Brown’s Park. Those nonprofits are all returning to serve in 2009, with several Brown Memorial Home residents assisting with bulk mailings and organizing paperwork for runner information bags.

Ambassadors from the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce annually assist with welcoming runners and distributing information about area attractions.  Likewise, members of the R.H. Viola family serve in leadership roles for numerous responsibilities required to run the event with complete coordination of runner registration being handled by Viola family members.

Children’s races will be organized this year by the Talmage Progressives 4-H Club with Katie Barbieri helping the club members. The children’s races are free to area youth and will be organized by age level. Further information on the children’s races will be included in a news release close to race date.

“This outsourcing of work areas required for the marathon to operate smoothly has been a tremendously helpful addition to our marathon event,” DeWeese said.  “Most groups assisting gain financial revenue from the event and others gain community service hours needed for their club’s awards programs.  We appreciate their assistance very much!”

Other nonprofits assisting during past years have included the Faith Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, Newbern 4-H, Detroit Ramblers 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Masons, CHS FFA and AHS National Honor Society. 

“Information about the marathon is listed on many thousands of websites,” DeWeese said.  “Readers can spend hours reading about the event by simply typing Eisenhower Marathon into any search engine using the Internet.  Readers will find articles from newspapers, running club newsletters and runner websites all over the country that mention the Eisenhower Marathon and Abilene.”

 Interested individuals can access information about the event plus pictures of runners and volunteers at www.eisenhowermarathon.com, and those readers who would like to see comments from the runners about the Eisenhower Marathon can go to www.marathonguide.com and read runner comments.

“Runners often praise local businesses and volunteers for the tremendous welcome they receive when coming to Abilene,” DeWeese said.  “They mention businesses by name on the Internet and highly compliment those volunteers out on the course for the assistance provided during the race.”

Corporate sponsors for the 2009 Eisenhower Marathon include Brierton Engineering, Central National Bank, DS&O Electric Cooperative, Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc., Eisenhower Foundation, KABI/KSAL radio, Land Pride (a division of Great Plains Manufacturing), Pinnacle Bank, Warren Wilson Hay, Inc, Wilson Transport, Inc, and the R.H. Viola Family, with many local businesses sponsoring other event needs.  All donors will be recognized in race-day handouts and in a display newspaper ad about the event.  Corporate sponsors are listed on the backs of runner T-shirts, on signs at the finish line and on the marathon website, as well as the race-day handouts and press/broadcast releases.

“We tremendously appreciate the sponsors and volunteers who help with this important event for Dickinson County,” DeWeese said.  “Nearly $100,000 is generated annually for Abilene-area businesses and nonprofits, with that figure jumping to nearly a quarter of a million dollars when airplane tickets and car rentals are factored in. We hope everyone will come out on April 11 for the Eisenhower Marathon and help us cheer the runners along their route and across the finish line. When they feel welcomed to our area, they are eager to return and tell friends and family about Abilene.”