 Media Credit: scott theisen Earth Day Half Marathon competitors cross the 10th Street Bridge Saturday morning. Temperatures were in the middle 40s as light rain fell from an overcast sky. Despite the gloomy conditions, 857 runners completed the course.
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 Media Credit: scott theisen More than 1,600 runners registered for the three different events comprising the Earth Day Half Marathon Festival. (Right) Marathon runners pass the Miller Center on 5th Avenue as they start the first leg of the race.
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The SCSU campus was a flurry of activity Friday and Saturday as all ages gathered to participate in the fourth annual Earth Day Half Marathon Festival, presented by Campus Recreation and sponsored by the Central Minnesota Heart Center at St. Cloud Hospital.
The excitement began Friday afternoon in the Halenbeck Fieldhouse as 444 kids participated in Kidz Korner, a family-oriented event that included face painting, a tropical egg hunt, card making for the children's hospital, planetarium tours and a variety of other free events, including door prizes for children.
"It would be neat if kids started to associate fun and excitement with the words 'Earth Day,'" said Jenni Mead, SCSU student and Children's Programs Director for the Earth Day Half Marathon Festival. "Hopefully they will carry that attitude with them into the future and become conscious of the path our environment is on."
The next step in fulfilling the goal of fun and excitement for the kids was the 1k Junior Run, which embarked from the Halenbeck Fieldhouse Friday at 6 p.m. Awards were given to the top three runners in each age category and photographs of each runner commemorating the event were available. For the older children and adults, the 5k Pasta Run commenced from the same location at 6:30 p.m. with medals awarded to the top two males and females in each category, as well as to the overall male and overall female finishers.
Saturday, despite cold weather, runners from SCSU and the surrounding community were attracted to SCSU. The Halenbeck Fieldhouse was bustling with free massages, free childcare, showering facilities and sweaty marathon runners feeling great about their accomplishments after the Earth Day Half Marathon that began 9 a.m. that morning.
"I feel good, great (after the half marathon)," SCSU marketing major Billy Pauling said. "I liked the set-up, the people cheering; it was really fun."
For some, this was the first experience with the Earth Day Half Marathon.
"It was just a challenge. I wanted to see if I could do it," Pauling said. I've never done anything like it before."
Others participated this year to attempt to improve on earlier times.
"(I feel) pretty good, shaved 21 minutes off the last time so I am very happy," Matt Bappe, Twin Cities community member said. "(But there was) too much rain, it added 5lbs to my weight," he joked.
Although not a pleasant occurrence for the runners, many had an optimistic view of the rainy conditions Saturday.
"(The rain is) a part of Earth Day though, you have to run," said Twin Cities community member, Cathy Bappe.
Monetary awards for the marathon winners consisted of $500 for first place, $200 for second place and first Master's (40+) and $100 for third place.
Just as the rain did not deter runners from the marathon, 47 volunteers for the Earth Day Clean-up set out to beautify the SCSU campus and neighborhood from 1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday. The event was organized by SCSU Volunteer Link and Z-Club.
"It is really exciting (and) wonderful that on a cold, rainy day, people showed up," said Lissa Staples, Coordinator for Volunteer Link.
As fuel for the project, free pizza was provided for the volunteers before work began. Groups were formed with garbage bags clenched in gloved hands and a positive outlook dominating the group.
"It makes me feel good," said second-year graphic design major Connie Schroeder. "Maybe it will let other people know that there are people out there that care. Maybe it will get people to respect the environment, participate and take care of the environment."
In its first year, the clean-up proved to make a difference as members of the SCSU neighborhood drove by and thanked volunteers. Staples hopes that this event will become a "fun tradition."
Hard work and planning went into the events this weekend for the Earth Day Half Marathon Festival, allowing both students and community members to celebrate Earth Day and the importance of good health.
"We put a lot of effort into making this a memorable event for the kids, the community and the runners. I think we accomplished that," Mead said.
Marathon Results
Top 10 Overall
1. Michael Stoick 1:10:33
2. Vince Temu 1:11:16
3. Lawrence Mboga 1:11:35
4.Chris Pikus 1:12:30
5. Travis Hoover 1:13:38
6. Peter Kessler 1:15:12
7. Scott Lindell 1:16:22
8. Allen Zetterlund 1:17:22
9.Travis Tetzlaff 1:18:29
10. Bret Evans 1:18:54
