GALESBURG – Striving to be bigger and better in its third year, Run Galesburg Run, brought in longtime area track and field starter Van Steckelberg to trigger the three-races-in one Sunday.
“Oh, he’s got a gun!” exclaimed one unknowing spectator as she saw Steckelberg heading for the starting line and with a bang send over 800 runners onto the streets and roads in and out of town from the corner of Kellogg and Simmons streets. It was RGR’s biggest field yet.
But that was the most alarming moment in the steadily-growing event officially called the Dave’s Autobody Gator Run, the Go Outside and Play 5K and Cottage Hospital Half Marathon. The inaugural RGR two years ago drew 501 entries and 712 last year.
“We had entries from over 10 different states and over half the overall entries were from Galesburg,” said Nick Pigg, race director.
“It’s gone real good but it heated up as people got out into the country.”
While the 7 a.m. start and a cool breeze made conditions seem comfortable at the start, the thermometer crept over 80 degrees with noticeable humidity as the morning progressed.
Winner of the half-marathon, Alex Ray of Crowne Point, Ind. (1:23.26), said he felt it.
“At 10 miles, I hit the wall,” said the St. Xavier University cross country and track runner, who was encouraged by Knoxville’s Taylor Thompson, a schoolmate, to enter the race.
“There’s that big loop (in the course) and it’s like they’re trying to break you.
“I went out averaging 5:50 a mile and I came in over 7:00.”
But the winner of the 5K race, Ethan Stanley (16:50), a senior at ROWVA High School said it was hotter Saturday when he finished 19th at the IHSA Class 1A 3200 in Charleston.
“It wasn’t as bad as at state,” said Stanley, who decided to register for RGR on Sunday morning. “They’ve got that blue track and all that ivy planted around it that blocks the wind.”
Although his personal best in a 5K is 15:47 at Peoria’s Detweiler Park, Stanley was happy with his run.
“Whoever was running behind me helped. He pushed me real well,” he said.
Another IHSA state track meet veteran, Monmouth-Roseville High School, Maddie Dulin, was the only repeat champ as the 5K’s first female finisher. Her 21:06 time bettered last year’s finish of 22:24.
“I did some more distance training during track season,” said the M-R senior who was a member of the Titan’s 4×800 team that took 11th in Class 2A this spring.
The top women’s finisher in the half-marathon was recruited for the race by Robbie Dunn, a former schoolmate at the University of New Orleans and son of RGR marketing director Dave Dunn.
Dunn may want to hire her to assist with marketing the race. “It’s a phenomenal course,” she said. “There’s a group of girls out there – they must be cheerleaders – they’re so enthusiastic.
“It’s a great atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back.
Winner of the one-mile fun run was 17-yer-old Jacob Malek in 5:26.
Another first for the event was a marriage proposal made at the finish line.
Upon completing the half-marathan, Rob Buck, The Register-Mail’s local news editor, dropped to his knee and asked girlfriend Susan Dobson, who was working the race as a volunteer, to marry him.
After popping the question several times previously with no success, Buck finally heard Dobson say yes.
Steckelberg, starting RGR for the first time, said of his appearance. “This is the first time they’ve asked me.
“They’ve always asked me to borrow my gun but they couldn’t figure out how to use it.”
Steckleberg, who has been starting track and running events for 37 years, might not be back to RGR next year, however.
“I want to start the first meet at the new (Galesburg High School) track and then I’m going to quit,” he said.
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