An idea that began as a simple fundraiser for Berry Elementary school has grown into an annual community event.
Sydney Adams, COM 250 Reporter
Dedicated distance runners can run any where from 3.1 miles, a 5k, to 6.1 miles, a 10k, to 13.1 miles, a half marathon.
Berry College hosted its 9th Half Marathon in March. People come from states all across the country to run at the largest campus in the world.
A team of four people, Lori Frederick, her husband, and Kimberly Bergin and her husband organize and execute the Berry Half every year in March. Frederick and Bergin are teachers at Berry Elementary School. An idea that began as a simple fundraiser for the Elementary school has grown into an annual community event.
The half marathon also includes a 5K and a 10K as well as a kid’s fun run. Sophomore Joanna Logan participated in the 5K race.
“I enjoy running and heard about the Berry Half Marathon around campus,” Logan said. “I ran the 5K last year and the 10K this year. It was a great atmosphere and had a great turn out.”
The race had almost 2,000 runners and 400 volunteers. There is currently not a cut-off for how many people can register. Frederick said that they may eventually have to make a cut-off if it continues to grow. The race uses a lot of on-campus resources and faculty to host.
“We don’t want to over burden the campus,” Frederick said.
The race course goes all around Berry College campus, from Main Campus all the way to Mountain Campus. It is a closed course and many of the main roads on campus, including Stretch Road, are blocked off for the race. The roads are closed for four and a half hours.
The half marathon course is course certified through the USATF (United States of America Track and Field) organization. This means that the race is a qualifier for other races where participants must have a certain finishing time in order to participate. Runners can participate in the Berry Half in order to qualify for other races such as the Boston Marathon. Since the race course is a qualified course, it remains the same every year. Berry is not allowed to make alterations to the course.
Berry College Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Paul Deaton is a runner himself, as well as coaching Berry runners. Deaton finds it fulfilling for his life to coach and inspire young runners. Hydration and a good lifestyle are important for runners. In order to be the best runners they can be, they need to stay healthy.
“Balance and variety is the key to healthy nutrition,” Deaton said. “Recovery practices are helpful. In general keep moving, re-establish a full range of motion, re-hydrate, and replace calories lost with healthy choices.”
Running long distance can be taxing on the body and lungs and it is important for runners to keep their health and best interest in mind when knowing their running limits.
The Berry Half Marathon provides a great opportunity for runners of all levels to come out and test their limits. Berry encourages anyone to run and for those who do not run, they encourage to come volunteer at the many water stations they have through out the race.
Frederick, a Berry alumnus herself, said that she has noticed how much the race has impacted the community of Berry and of Rome. Many people attend and it is growing every year.
“We are most proud of the positive energy and attention that the race brings to Berry itself,” Frederick said. “It is such a positive experience for people and has brought in so much good to the school.”
Be on the lookout for information for next years 10th annual Berry Half Marathon.