09/12/2016
Some Highlights from an AMAZING Weekend. Ok, A LOT of Highlights as there are so many people to thank. First: Thank You Runners and Walkers!!! Without you there wouldn't be an event! Second: Thank you Volunteers and Supporters including: The Phoenixville Jacyees (Peter and Ray...love you two and can't believe we had brain cells left to think about other wild events to do together, we laughed until we pulled out of town), Activate Phoenixville (Kim and Shannon...would be lost without you both amazing job pulling volunteers from all over), All Kinds of Fast (Galen and Team AKF...Turtles RULE - thanks for Awards and Support) Phoenixville, Fast Tracks Running Club (Suzanne and Charlie from Marshals to folding in and running), Phoenixville Police and Fire Police, Phoenixville Hospital (amazing with onsite medical and "Medal" handling support)!! !Ursinus College, Spring City Police, East Pikeland Police, Royersford EMS, the countless Volunteers where we had so many that came back day after day (Asha, Joe, Jackie, Amanda, Giancarlo, Kenneth and the list goes on...speechless! Could go on for days about the knock out jobs you all did). Now onto our Sponsors who ROCKED it, Chester County's Brandywine Valley CVB ( Greg Edevane, Susan Hamley, Nina, Will,) for their Title Sponsorship support the dynamite Lead Car Drivers (Jake Janko), The Phoenixville Foundry (Caroline and team for the great after party s**c), Chaddsford Winery (Corey and Anna for the wine), Black Walnut (Kellina for wine and sponsorship support), and Sly Fox Brewery(Mark and Team for Friday night and day of bevy's)! We(Todd, John and Myself) can't say enough about the runners who participated everyday and some all three, have to give a shout out to the "Inaugural Trifecta's" Joe DeNicola, Carmella DiPippa, Jaclyn Shokey, Vance Watson, Emily Cucchi, Karen Sbei, Joe Freeland, Heather Vallino, Nancy Lee, Harmon, Lisa Silvonek, Melissa Kent, Elise Burket, Sean Burket, Jim Schutawie, Jeremie Sumpman, and Mike Roberts who all endured some crazy hot temperatures and were AMAZING ( we have to thank Adam Joseph for nice break yesterday..I think his kids did a cool breeze with sunshine dance)! I can't wait to run with some of you in Rehoboth! Now onto a very special person and the reason we do what we do! I can not say enough about an amazing woman Ann Scharpf and her pacer/best friend Su-Nin. Ann contacted me months ago about the event and being a participant. I hope Ann will share her story as she is an inspiration, but I don't want to steal her thunder. In short...RWB Half was a mission for Ann, a woman who couldn't walk far a year ago and 3 months ago told me she was determined to finish not only a half, but this half marathon. We were blessed she picked ours for her quest (yes she a runner, because she picked one of the toughest courses, which only runners do). I/we knew Ann wouldn't finish in the 3.5 hour time limit, but I promised her from day one that I would be there to hand her the medal she deserved WHEN she crossed the finish line. HOWEVER, what I didn't know was every person I told (and I told ALOT) that we would have a crowd waiting for her. I get chills thinking about it!!! So many people raced to the original finish line (once her husband and sister in law, (who flew in from Florida) told us where she was), to set up a "Make Shift" finish line for her and Su-Nin. Everyone cheer like crazy as she crossed! See the attached video for the hear felt emotion from all involved. The topper, she was picked up on the course (by Kenneth one of our priceless supporters who trailed Ann and stopped traffic to keep her and Su-Nin safe) at mile 8 and moved her to mile 10 (we had a a closed road limit) and still had 2 more miles to go, she took her medal and with the help of Michelle Louise (AKF Runner) and fellow AKF Runners, she was directed to a flat 2 mile course that would land her at the finish line. Guess what??? The same crowd waited 40 extra minutes to salute her and Su-Nin and grace the with festival food and beer! This was the perfect ending to an Race Weekend! Now, if you want my behind the scenes comedy breakdown of everything going awry, let me know! That will be another long post! On a serious note and yes, I'm wrapping up. We value each and every runner, volunteer and supporter who came out this weekend. We value your time, support and the experience you have. With that, we know we made mistakes and with all first year events, had some hic-cups, some people noticed others not so much. We value your feedback, good or bad, both make us better. And lastly, we want to build something that you want to come back for year after year. In closing if you have something you want to share, please do so here or email me! [email protected]. Thank you again for the memories and newly created bonds. If I missed ANYONE, my apology. I am still fuzzy eyed with my head spinning. Thank you all, until we meet again. CHEERS!!! Kathleen, Todd and John!
