|
Race Date: August 23, 2008
PAGE NAVAGATION:
2008 Race Results
Information on Registration
History of the Run
Shoe Donations
2008 Race Results
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Run!
To see result of the race please click
here.
Register
the whole family online!
It's never been easier to register for Run Around the Square. Register online
before August 19 and save $6 off the registration fee. The first 1,000 people
will receive a long-sleeved
t-shirt.* As always, adults can register online and this year you can register
your children and pets too.
Just click on the link on this
Registration
link or on the link on the right hand side of this page.
*Sizes or availability are not guaranteed for those
registering after August 19th. No T-shirt sizes will be exchanged.
History of the Run
Run
Around the Square, which had a modest beginning in 1982, has grown over the past
twenty-six years to become one of
Western Pennsylvania’s largest 5K races.
In the 1980’s, the Regent Square
community organized an end of summer event called, Regent Square Days.
Frick
Park’s
Fern Hollow was the site of this fun-filled day. Organizers thought a Fun Run
would be a nice addition to the events. Nine brave souls were willing to run
that original course up Falls Ravine Trail, to
North
Clayton
Trail and back down
Forbes to the Richmond street
park. Big things have small beginnings and this competition was no exception -
Run Around the Square was out of the starting blocks and well on its way.
Quickly the race picked up speed, attracted hundreds of participants and became
a 5 mile race with an addition of a 2 mile Fun Run for those wanting more fun
than competition. The 5 Mile race still had its registration site in Fern
Hollow, but the course started on the corner of Lancaster and Hutchinson
Avenues.
The Race wound its way for 2.5 miles through the streets
of Regent Square
and proceeded through the trails of
Frick
Park
towards the finish line still used today in Fern Hollow.
In 1998, the race course was shortened from 5 miles to 3.1 miles. The number of
runners increased greatly, and the 2.5 miles through the narrow streets and
numerous sharp turns, no longer accommodated the large crowd. The new 5K (3.1
mile) course started on Milton Avenue, via Trevanion to Lancaster, the course was
now able to accommodate the growing number of runners.
The Fun Run was also changed from a 2 mile to a 1.5
mile race along a similar route. The biggest addition came with the entry of
dogs. Friendly, walking, leashed dogs were able to participate in the 1.5 Fun
Run.
Run Around the Square is built on community spirit with a festive atmosphere,
musician lined course and the backing of the locally owned businesses in “the
Square”. Through the years, the changes the race has gone through have helped it
evolve into one of the largest 5K races in the region and the most beloved event
of the people of Regent Square.
History of
Run Around the Square Contributed by:
Carol Cusick and Michele Megarry-Acord
Shoe Donations
Each year, Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe Program recycles more than 20
million pairs of athletic shoes in an effort to reuse the materials to create
sports surfaces for kids around the globe.* A few years ago, Lisa Ray, a
Pittsburgh resident, was inspired by Nike's program. In an effort to give back
to her community, Lisa has been collecting shoes to contribute to the program
and last year, collected over 800 shoes. Since the closest collection site is in
Philadelphia, Lisa took the initiative to drive the donated shoes to the
collection site herself. Lisa's dedication doesn't stop there. She has plans to
partner with Nike to create a collection site in the area but she needs your
help. Lisa needs 5,000 shoes of any type (but please nothing with metal or
spikes), tennis, running, cross country or walking, both adult and children's
sizes. With Lisa's inspired efforts, Run Around the Square is the perfect
opportunity to buy new shoes and recycle the old. For more information visit,
www.nikereuseashoe.com.

|