Shepherd University hosted the 6th annual Freedom’s Run on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Thousands of runners from all over the country raced to the hills of West Virginia to take place in any of five events. Those events included a marathon, a half marathon, 5k, 10k and a 1 mile run for kids.
Freedom’s Run started six years ago in an attempt to raise awareness for the growing rate of obesity in West Virginia and to promote outdoor activity. While providing the town with an opportunity to get active, the event also gives money back to the community.
Locals, friends, and families crowded the streets to cheer for the runners. The course started on German Street and ended on Shepherd University’s football field after winding through the town and, in some races, the C&O Canal trail.
Lined up in the 5k were two 10-year-old girls, Melanie Morford and Isabel Ramirez, from Silver Spring, Md. The pair really enjoyed the experience, saying that they enjoyed the downhill parts of the run and disliked the uphill parts.
The full marathon started at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and continued into three other national parks including Antietam Battlefield, which attracted interest from runners and history buffs alike.
In the spirit of the event, Shepherd sophomore Sam Holiskey, who ran in the 10k for a third year, sacrificed beating her previous best time to stay back and give an older woman encouragement to finish the run.
Along with the races, the runners were also invited to a spaghetti dinner in Shepherd’s dining hall on Friday night, were given a free beverage of choice at the Bavarian Inn’s celebration of Oktoberfest and were also encouraged to have dinner at Domestic restaurant, which helped sponsor the event.
Many students and staff at Shepherd University along with people from the community work throughout the year to make the run possible. Anyone looking to get involved next year is encouraged to check out the website at www.freedomsrun.org.