By Jack Berning
The annual Run for the Schools benefiting the Iowa City public schools and Regina Catholic School was held on Sunday, beginning at the Robert A. Lee Recreational Center.
Participants in the race were able to choose from either running a half mile, full mile, 5K/10K, or a half-marathon.
The race weaves through downtown Iowa City as well as the surrounding area. Length and difficulty varied based on which race participants ran in.
Community members both young and old were encouraged to run in the event, from kids in elementary school to senior citizens.
“I like to run the hills,” said Charles Potter, a senior citizen visiting from Muscatine. “I haven’t run in the race since 2000, because they didn’t have a full marathon, but I’m too old to be running those, now. It’s a nice li_ttle half-marathon.”
While there were many visiting runners like Potter, there were also a great number of people taking place locally.
UI student Alex Luchowski, a runner in the 5K, said, “It’s cool that the community is able to come together for the schools. College kids, families, and just avid runners are all out here. It’s just great all around energy.”
The purpose of the event is to raise money for the 26 public Iowa City Schools and the private Regina Catholic school. The fundraiser is one of the largest of the year, said Susan Brennan, the executive director of the Iowa City School District Foundation.
The money raised from the event is used to improve the physical-education and library programs, as well as more specialized programs, such as STEM and eighth-grade theater.
“This race is huge for us,” Brennan said. “This event is worth so much to our schools. When you add up the thousands of dollars this event has raised for our schools over the years, it’s tough put into words how much we are able to do with the money.”
According to the Run for the Schools website, the race has raised $750,000 since it started, and has raised over $50,000 in each of the last six years. In 2015, the run raised a record $72,000, with a record $11,000 returned to 26 individual school buildings through participation awards.
“We feel so lucky to have such a great community and such a great event, benefiting our schools,” Brennan said. “The money raised by these runs goes so far into improving or schools; we really are so thankful.”