The Resolution Run

Get the New Year off on the right foot

Dec. 22, 2013

It’s such a great idea it’s a wonder no one thought of it before: a 5k Resolution Run on New Year’s Day to get a healthy start for 2014.

"Doing the run will help you feel better about what you did the night before," laughs Bill Lancaster, who, along with fellow runner Karl Bastian, is organizing the Resolution Run as a fundraiser for the Traverse Health Clinic.

"Our idea was to have a fun run on a holiday, and we noted that some of the most successful runs in town now have themes, like the Zombie Run at Halloween, the Turkey Trot, and the Cherry Festival races," Lancaster says. "That’s when families tend to be together and there’s a celebration going on.

"Plus, everyone has New Years’ resolutions, so they can get started on them that day and have fun doing it," The run will start at Little Fleet (the new "˜food truck’ bar on E. Front Street) and proceed through downtown, winding back on neighborhood streets.

"It’s going to start later than normal," Lancaster says. "Most runs start at 9 a.m., but we’re going to start at 11. Runners will be home in time to catch the football game."

RUNNING PALS

Lancaster heads up Lancaster Photography, while Bastian is a marketing professional. Both tend to be fans of longer runs; Lancaster is training for his second Boston Marathon and typically does two marathons and a couple of half-marathons each year, while Bastian does the same race distances.

There’s no denying that 5k’s are where it’s at these days in the race circuit, however, and that’s why they opted for that distance for the Resolution Run.

"There aren’t many 10k races in the area anymore; the only one I know of is the Bayshore," Lancaster notes. "I think the 5k distance has become the draw for most people. It’s something any runner can do, and we also get more kids who run crosscountry because that’s the distance they tend to run in school."

THE DETAILS

Lancaster and Bastian started the Goodwill Run for Shelter which was held in April over the past 4-5 years. For the Resolution Run they decided to benefit the Traverse Health Clinic, which provides medical, nursing and dental services for the working poor in the five-county area surrounding Traverse City.

Lancaster notes that the $35 race fee goes directly to the Clinic. Runners will receive a t-shirt, the run will be timed by Endurance Evolution, and awards will be given to the top three runners in each age group.

Sponsors include Fox Motors, Bill Marsh, Hospitalists of Northern Michigan, API, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Oryana, Little Fleet, TV 9&10, Z93, Cartridge World, JenTees and UpNorth Media.

takes place at 11 a.m. Jan. 1 at Little Fleet, 448 E. Front, TC. Packet pickup is on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 3-6 p.m. at Cartridge World (across from GT Mall, next to Running Fit). Sign up on the Traverse Health Clinic website at http://www.traversehealthclinic.org