Race Day Information

The event is usually held on a warm, humid Thursday evening in late July.  The City of Eau Claire has an outdoor concert scheduled at the same time in the band shell at Owen Park which the runners are free to enjoy after the race. The race typically draws about 100-135 runners.

Start and Finish

The race starts at Demmler Park and finishes at Owen Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Children’s races of a quarter mile and half mile, and the awards ceremony follows the conclusion of the 5K race at Owen Park.

Registration

on-line registration opens in June and closes on July 26, 2010

 

Mail-in registration forms can be downloaded when available. Early bird discount: $15 if sent by July 14.

 

Day-of-Race Registration starts 5:00 p.m. at the Eau Claire YMCA, at 700 Graham Avenue, not far from the finish line at Owen Park. Race Day registration is $20.

$2 discount to all ITC members

Course Description

The race starts at Demmler Park and follows scenic Putnam Drive into the woods and onto the gravel road. After going through the tunnel under State Street, it snakes between the university buildings and the bluff until the runners reach Garfield Avenue. The runners cross the bridge over the Chippewa River and circle on Water Street to reach the bike trail which they follow into Owen Park, passing the tennis courts and band shell to get to the finish line.

Course Map

 

 

Aid Stations

 

Water is available at the start and finish lines. Bathroom facilities are available at Owen Park. Showers are available at the Eau Claire YMCA.

 

Shirts

 

All pre-registered runners receive a short-sleeve cotton shirt.

 

Post Race Ceremonies

 

The awards ceremony follows the conclusion of the race. Sammy's Pizza, bread from Bohemian Ovens and ice cold beverages are available after the race.

 

Parking

 

Parking is available on nearby streets or at the Eau Claire YMCA.

 

Awards

 

The first 3 overall men's and women's finishers receive awards and the first 3 men's and women's age group finishers receive age group awards.

 

Race Director

Fred Hable, 715.835.5897

History

The race was created as a revival of the grade school Shawtown 4 mile race.  Organized by Judy Payne and Kim Deprenger in 1989, who invited "all area school children, several area clowns, chipmunks, police officers, track teams and assorted other attractions", it started as a children's race, grades 1 through 8. It remained a children's race until 1999, when Fred Hable realizing his inner child, threw it open to children of all ages.

The 1999 race was memorable. Chad Johnson,  the 2001 USA 25k champion, established the race record, but Fred Hable remembers at least 5 other runners who finished under or around 16 minutes that year. The next year, 2000, Rachel Evjen, who would go on to set school records at Northwestern University, set the women's race record. The winners and their times are shown below:

Year	Men	Women
1999	Chad Johnson (14:44)	Nicki Velleux (20:27)
2000	Cody See (16:14)	Rachel Evjen (18:17)
2001	Corey Stelljes (16:31)	DeAnna Pasch (20:06)
2002	Jim Parejko (16:40)	Wendy Bengtson (19:30)
2003	Adam Topper (16:04)	Wendy Bengtson (19:38)
2004	Zach Vircks (16:02)	Wendy Bengtson (19:40)
2005	Cary Hayden (16:02)	Ariella Gottfried (19:05)
2006	Jesse Merkel (15:51)	Karen Schoenrock (19:24)
2007	Wade Zweiner (17:36)	Kayla Dahl (20:26)
2008	Tyler Heinz (16:47)	Jari Edmonds (19:40)
2009	Brent Kann (15:29)	Molly Woodford (19:40)

 

Race Records

 

		Tortoise and the Hare 5k
Male		Chad Johnson (1999) 14:44
Female		Rachel Evjen (2000), 18:17

 

Results:    2009  •  2008  •  2007  •  2006 •  2005  •  2004  •  2003  •  2002  •  2001  •  2000

  Last Updated 03/04/2010