“People come because they want to support the cause,” said co-organizer Larry Tonzi. “We have some good runners come each year.”
Some of those include Angela Ewings of Littleton and Linda Mountain of Mapleton, two of the top female runners, along with Evan Graves, Jeff Ashby and a pile of local running enthusiasts.
The course, which starts and ends at the Millar Civic Center, takes runners out Elm Street to Pleasant Street and to the Foxcroft Road where runners reverse their direction and head back to the civic center. The walking part of the event starts at 10:45 a.m., followed by the run at 11 a.m. Registration is from 9:30-10:35 a.m. at Millar Civic Center. Cost is $9, with the first 50 to register receiving a T-shirt. Trophies presented are for first and second finishers (male and female) in the run and the first five finishers in the walk, with special awards for relay teams (first three-member male and female teams), “mean” runner and “guts” award.
The categories for the run are: 14 and under; 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, along with 60 and over.
The number of participants each year depends solely on one factor — Mother Nature.
“We have run in 40 to 45 degree Fahrenheit weather to -20,” Tonzi said. “We have run when it’s snowy to not snowy.”
But, each year, walkers and runners take their mark and away they go around the 5K course for two reasons.
“We raise funds for the Aroostook Musterd Scholarship for a runner who is going on to a postsecondary school,” explained Tonzi. “We usually raise between $200 and $500.”
And the other reason, a plain ol’ good time in the winter.
“It is a lot of fun,” Tonzi said.
Through the years, the event has been generously supported by Katahdin Trust Company.
After a year hiatus, Tonzi thought he’d like to get the run going again. He contacted Vicki Smith to find out if the bank would be interested in sponsoring it again. She said “yes.”
Since that time, Katahdin Trust Company has been the major sponsor.
“I work with Annette Beaton now, and she’s been terrific,” Tonzi added.
Staff of Katahdin Trust Company brave the elements to help with registration to manning the start/finish line.
“We also have a lot of community people donate in kind, as well,” said Tonzi, “with gifts and door prizes.”
For a number of years, high school shop students crafted homemade trophies for the overall male and female winners. But that fizzled out over the years, as handcrafted was replaced with manufactured ones.
“This year, we are reinstituting the Mean Runner Award and Guts Award,” Tonzi said. “We have $25 for the Mean runner and another may possibly help with the Guts Award.”
Tonzi has been running the race since it was held at Katahdin High School in the early 80s.
“Some of my best memories are meeting Loren Ritchie, the first organizer of the race, and making a lot of new friends,” he said. “Another is after an illness being able to run again, and lastly, the year my son ran the race with me … once, that was it, but we did it for fun.”
Moving the site of the race from Houlton High School to Millar Civic Center, participants have room to dress, stretch and mingle, as well as enjoy a hot lunch after the race.
“It’s a nice facility,” said Tonzi. “The recreational staff has been very helpful.”
In 2003 when Moosestompers began, Tonzi coordinated the race to be held the same weekend.
“We’ve had a good relationship,” he said. “In the spirit of Moosestompers, we want to get people outside and be active. This run is something we want to continue year-to-year, making sure it’s a tradition that isn’t lost.”
Through the years, numerous individuals and families have worked on the event to keep it going. This year, the Baileys, Brent and Brenda, are helping Tonzi.
“Our goal is to keep it going, get more people running and to have fun,” Tonzi said. “We want it to succeed.”
The event usually draws around 50 runners, which is good for the County, since running has dwindled off a bit in popularity, according to Tonzi.
The annual event has raised money not only for scholarships, but for Pine Tree Society, Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) and for Houlton’s skate park.
Wild Katahdin Trust Snow Run — the tradition remains alive
On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Wild Katahdin Snow Run will be held at Community Park. The quarter of a century old event draws mostly runners from across Aroostook County and New Brunswick, along with a handful of walkers each year.
