Race attracts serious runners from throughout the State

Planning underway for the 4th annual Kinston 8000

The top three male runners in the Kinston 8000: Run for the River held March 29, 2008, sprint down Queen Street on the way to setting course records for the event. From left to right, First Place Devin Swann of Raleigh, with a time of 24:51; Second Place Ryan Woods of Boone with a time of 25:21; and Third Place runner Tom Clifford of Wrightsville Beach. The record set in 2007 was 25:58 set by Greenville runner Michael Earle. (Photo by Charles Buchanan, courtesy of the Kinston Free Press.)

Male and female runners from throughout North Carolina are beginning to sign up to compete for $500.00 first place prize money in Kinston's 4th annual Run for the River set for March 28, 2009. Details about the annual runs are being announced today by the Pride of Kinston, the community's downtown revitalization agency which launched the race March 2006.

The 8k race plus a One Mile Fun Run have steadily grown in popularity among local, regional and Tar Heel runners, according to Pride's Outdoor Events Team, producer of the race. The event is hosted in cooperation with the Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Kinston. More than 200 runners participated in the 2008 race held in March 29, 2008.

The race is being promoted throughout the state, with information and registration materials being distributed to lists of individual runners, to national and regional websites, and to North Carolina gyms and military installations. The race is also being advertised in publications such as Endurance Magazine which caters to runner athletes.

The Outdoor Events Team led by Pride Board Member Kevin Zoltek has begun soliciting sponsorships for the race with the help of team members Tayler Nodtvedt and Lea Jeffress. The group has also begun assembling a platoon of volunteers who work the event on race day.

Sponsors, volunteers and runners are being invited to meet at the Neuse Sport Shop at 225 East New Bern Road on March 27, 2009 for pre-registration and related events:

• 6:00 - 7:00 pm Registration for 8k and One Mile Fun Run
• 6:00 pm Briefing for volunteers
• 7:00 pm Complimentary welcome dinner for participants

The One Mile Fun Run, beginning at 8:30 am, is conducted within Neuseway Nature Center. The 8k Run, launched at 9:00 am, begins in Neuseway Nature Center, continues along King and Queen Streets, loops through historic Mitchelltown, and ends near the Farmers Market on Herritage Street on the Neuse River bank.

The top male runner in 2008 was Devin Swann of Raleigh who took home $500.00 and an especially designed china bowl donated by Lenox China of Kinston. The top female runner to earn $500.00 in the 2008 8K race was Heather Lee of Clayton. Second place winners, male and female, are awarded $300.00 and third place winners take home $150.00.

Runners can download additional information and register for the race via Pride of Kinston's website: www.downtownkinston.com. Registration is $20.00 through March 27. Day-of-race registration fee will be $25.00 per runner.

Pride Celebrates 25 years in April

The Pride of Kinston celebrates its 25th anniversary in April 2009 with several events throughout the month to highlight its work promoting the revitalization of downtown.

North Carolina's long-serving Secretary of State Thad Eure issued his ruling April 27, 1984 that the Pride of Kinston, Inc. was a certified organization under State law to conduct its business.

On September 18, 1984, Governor Jim Hunt issued a certificate designating Kinston as a North Carolina Main Street City, selected by the North Carolina Division of Community Assistance to participate in the statewide Main Street program.

Seventeen community leaders served on Pride's first board of directors, chaired by O.A. (Buddy) Ritch, currently serving his third term as Kinston's mayor.

Mayor Joe Riley

Pride's 25th anniversary will be commemorated with three major events:

• April 2, 2009: Downtown birthday bash/business after hours
• April 16, 2009: Downtown birthday dinner featuring Charleston, SC Mayor Joe Riley
• April 25, 2009: Magnum downtown clean up party

Details for each event will be made available in the weeks ahead. A special committee of Pride board members is working on the celebration activities.

For more information contact Adrian King: 252-522-8003 or aking-pride@embarqmail.com