PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — More than 100 children and adults, walkers and runners took part in a patriotic road race on Saturday, July 11 in Presque Isle. The first-ever Freedom Run held in the Star City featured a kids’ fun run, a 5K (3.1 mile) run or walk; and a 10K (6.2 mile) run, all departing from the Gehrig T. Johnson Athletic Complex at the Presque Isle Middle School.
While 5K races are becoming more common throughout The County, runners who wanted to take on a more challenging road race took advantage of the first 10K event held in the region this season. Some used the event as a warm-up for the Maine Running Festival, which will be held in Presque Isle on Sunday, Aug. 20 and includes a half marathon and half marathon relay.
“The Freedom Run not only offered a challenge for the more serious runners, but was a fun event for the whole family. The Kids 1 Mile Fun Run is always fun and was a great out and back course; the 5K run/walk and the 10K run traveled travel through a flat and fast route through the Presque Isle Industrial Park before ending back on the track. It was a great summer day in The County,” said Jonathan Kelley, owner and race director for CompetitorME, who created the race and led the event.
The Freedom Run is a part of the CompetitorME Distance Race Series. It also marked the culmination of a Community Couch to 5K program that has been underway for a number of weeks. The program, offered by TAMC, was geared toward getting hospital and community members more active, with the goal of completing a 5K walk or run at the end of the program.
The TAMC Total Health Team, the City of Presque Isle, Healthy Main Street initiative of the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee, and the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce collaborated to offer the free community-wide Couch to 5K running and walking program. The Freedom Run served as an opportunity to put into action the work of several weeks for those who completed the course.
The Freedom Run is also part of the County Fit and Fun Series. The series was created by a coalition of County organizations who put on fitness activities for youth and adults, and who have come together in a collaborative effort to raise awareness and encourage more area residents to take advantage of the many such events offered in northern Maine in the spring, summer, and fall.
This race marked the start of the busiest period of time for such events in the region. Similar activities are set for nearly every weekend in The County between now and the end of October, with the Maine Running Festival at the end of August serving as a lead event for the series.
TAMC and CompetitorME serve as conveners for the collaborative group of non-profit organizations, businesses, municipalities and community groups who are part of the County Fit and Fun Series. The lead corporate partners supporting the first year are Emera Maine and WAGM-TV. Representatives from both companies were on hand at the Freedom Run to receive a ceremonial bib for the coming Maine Running Festival event in appreciation for their support.
“TAMC and CompetitorME put on a very welcoming and motivating event today,” said Gina LeBlanc-Eggert from Emera Maine. “We believe the Fit and Fun series will help events like the Freedom Run grow. We’re proud to support them in this effort and be a part of promoting healthy activities throughout the region.”
As participation in such events increases, the collaborators are hoping to raise the profile of non-winter sports in The County to be more in-line with the well-known activities that occur when the snow flies. Additionally, the partners are hoping to encourage more locals to take advantage of the many opportunities to engage in healthy physical activity in their own back yard.
“Healthy living and community involvement are very important to WAGM, so we are excited about being a part of the Fit and Fun series with TAMC and CompetitorME. It is wonderful to see events that engage the whole family; as was the case with the Freedom Run event,” said Kelly Landeen, WAGM-TV station manager.
A statewide Community Health Needs Assessment conducted in 2014 found that of Maine’s 16 counties, Aroostook County ranks thirteenth in health outcomes and twelfth for quality of life. The results show Aroostook County has the highest rates of overweight youth. It also has the second highest rate of heart disease in Maine.
The website www.fitandfunseries.org features a listing and information/registration links for all of events running through early November.
JOINED BY a number of kids just prior to the Kids Fun Run of The County’s first-ever Freedom Run on July 11, the convening partners of the County Fit and Fun Series presented the ceremonial first bibs for the Maine Running Festival, which is coming to Presque Isle on Sunday, August 20, to representatives of the lead corporate partners supporting the first year of the series. On hand to take part in the presentation among the youth and behind the official Fit and Fun Series banner were (left to right) Linda Menard, co-chair of the TAMC Total Health Team and coordinator for the walking program of the Presque Isle Community-wide Couch to 5K Program; Martin Puckett, Presque Isle deputy city manager and member of the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee; Theresa Fowler, executive director of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce; Jonathan Kelley, owner and race director for CompetitorME; James McKenney, TAMC vice president of support services; Kelly Landeen, WAGM-TV station manager; Gina LeBlanc-Eggert, Emera Maine customer service supervisor; and Sarah Caron, coordinator for the running program of the Presque Isle Community-wide Couch to 5K Program.
SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS in the Presque Isle Community-wide Couch to 5K program, that has been taking place over the past several weeks, took part in the Freedom Run on Saturday, July 11 to celebrate their achievement in the program. Stopping to pose for a photo just before taking off for the 5K race were (left to right) Kelly Landeen of WAGM-TV, one of the corporate partners for the County Fit and Fun Series; Jerusha Benn, program participant; Theresa Fowler, executive director of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce (a partner in the Couch to 5K program)and walking program participant; Julie Conrad, program participant; Ron Kofstad, program participant; Linda Menard, co-chair of the TAMC Total Health Team and coordinator for the walking program of the Presque Isle Community-wide Couch to 5K Program; Sarah Caron, coordinator for the running program of the Presque Isle Community-wide Couch to 5K Program; Susie Schloeman, program participant; and Julie Conrad, program participant.
