Interest in Run for the River Off to a Running Start

Kinston runner John Goforth outpaces unidentified competitor in the early stages of the 2006 Kinston 8000: Run for the River. Goforth was among the 150 runners who participated in the inaugural race March 2006.

Runners from a wide cross section of Tar Heel towns including Raleigh, Greenville, Richlands, Warsaw plus Kinston and La Grange are already lining up to register for the 2nd annual Kinston 8000: Run for the River, according to planners for the 8k race.

The race is set for Mar. 24, 2007 with a one-mile Fun Run to lead off at 8:30 am. The 8k run will be launched at 9:00 am. Both races start at Neuseway Nature Center. The 8k race, 4.96 miles, ends at the intersection of Gordon and Herritage Streets on the bank of the Neuse River near Tiffany West Park.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the fastest runners: $250. for the top male and female runners; $175. for second place finishers, and $150. will go to the third place male and female runners. The top three male and female Lenoir County finishers will each receive a $50. award.

A welcoming reception for sponsors, local volunteers and early registrants is being planned at the Hampton Inn at 6:00 pm Mar. 23, 2007, according to the race planning committee. A shuttle service for runners staying at the Hampton will take them to the race starting point and registration desk beginning at 7:00 am on race day. The service will run every 20 minutes until 8:00 am. Shuttles back to the Hampton will begin after the awards ceremony.

Local running enthusiasts Dick Archie (left) and Joseph Whitlark ran neck and neck over the King Street bridge in the first laps of the Kinston 8000: Run for the River in March 2006.

The inaugural Run for the River held a year ago, Mar. 25, 2006, attracted 150 runners, with 55% of the participants coming from towns other than Kinston. Pride of Kinston, along with the Kinston-Lenoir County Parks & Recreation Department, sponsor the race to encourage people to visit downtown, and to raise awareness of the Neuse River as a major community asset, according to Pride director Adrian King. Tim Knobeloch, recreation superintendent for Parks & Recreation, serves as the race director.

"We are very appreciative of support we receive from our sponsors, from the City of Kinston, particularly the Public Safety department, and from our volunteers," King and Knobeloch stated.

Sponsors of the race, to date, include the Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority; Lenoir Memorial Hospital; Wallace, Morris, Barwick, Landis & Stroud; Rakesh Anand; Kinston Head & Neck Physicians; Tands/Bojangles; Johnston & Perry Family Dentistry; Minges Bottling Company; Fred Antonowich; and Kinston Surgical Associates.

Persons interested in additional information can go to Pride of Kinston's website at www.downtownkinston.com, and click on the Things to Do button. Full information and a registration form are available.

Walking Around Town

It took about 30 minutes Jan. 17, 2007 for the first group of downtown walkers to forge a trail from the Lenoir County Council on Aging, to Harmony Hall, the Cultural Heritage Museum, along the Neuse River bank, through Neuseway Park, Herritage Street boutiques, back to the Council on Aging.

Intrepid walkers lined up in front of the Council on Aging to receive their "prizes" Jan. 17 following the first "Walk Around Town" outing sponsored by Pride and the Council on Aging.

The inaugural walk for "... your good health and downtown's..." attracted some 10 enthusiasts, according to sponsors Council on Aging and Pride of Kinston. Three walking trails have been carved out of downtown sidewalks: one for Mondays, one for Wednesdays and a third for Fridays. Each walk begins at the Council on Aging at 112 E. Blount Street, and ends at the same location. Each walk begins at 12 noon.

The first group of walkers were presented a "prize" for making the effort: a tee shirt awarded runners who participated in Pride's 2006 Run for the River. The 2007 version of the 8k race is set for March 24, 2007.