The words fun and run are not mutually inclusive in many people’s vocabulary, but that is not true for the estimated 500 participants who enjoyed this year’s Crown of Queen Anne Fun Run/Walk event.
The 5K (3.3 miles) Fun Run is in its 29th year and is sponsored by the Queen Anne Helpline organization and is a sanctioned Seafair event. When Pat Sobeck, the director of the Fun Run Committee and a participant since the Fun Run’s inception in 1982, was asked what the key word would be to describe the run, without hesitation she replied, “Fun….it is fun because it’s an event for the whole family…..sort of a big old fashioned neighborhood picnic.”
The run began at Fifth Avenue West and West Halladay and finished in front of the Coe Elementary School. The pre-function and registration was staged at the Queen Anne Lutheran Church, where light snacks and liquids were supplied to stoke up the runners/walkers for the morning event. At about 8 a.m. the walkers began and at 8:20 a.m., the runners shot off the starting line and the race was on.
This year’s first overall finisher was Nick Welch. The first woman registered as a runner who crossed the finish line was Kristin Weisse, from Springfield, Mass. The University of Connecticut student was in town visiting friends. The first person to cross the line registered as a walker was Claire Keepers of Tucson Ariz. The 14-year-old, who is an avid runner, was visiting her aunt and decided to run for the cause.
Also among the first walkers to cross the line were 9 year-old Audrey Rogerson and her 6 year-old sister, Marcella. While Audrey technically crossed the finish line first, Marcella made sure to explain that she and Audrey were neck and neck but then she dropped her water bottle. The sisters mutually decided to settle for a tie (their father Dale said they would have run better if they hadn’t stayed up so late last night
on a sleepover).
Once the racers all crossed the finish line, everyone headed back to the church lawn for a picnic, prizes and gift certificates from local merchants, ranging from $10 to $120.
One of the biggest prizes given out each year is the winner of most creative crown. That award went to former Queen Anne resident Terry Fox and his 12-year-old son Oliver. Terry Fox work a strange tower contraption made of rods and plastic golf balls.
“Someone described it as the Science Center meets Queen Anne,” Terry Fox said.
Oliver, on the other hand, wore a green contraption that looked more like a multi-eyed sea monster than an actual hat.
Not all of the participants were from Queen Anne or even Washington state. Jacob Lamoureux was from New Hampshire and was here on an internship with a local business.
“I am an avid runner and one of the first things I did when I arrived was to check out all of the summer runs in the area……this was a great run (he said with a big smile)…..there aren’t many runs in New Hampshire in the summer because of the heat and humidity.”
Bob Larrubio now from New Jersey, but born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, was on Queen Anne visiting his son, daughter-in-law, 2 year-old grandson, and at 5 days old, his newest grandson. Larrubio, who at 74 was one of the oldest runners to cross the finish line (also with a big smile on his face) said that “running and my grandchildren help keep me young.”
It was also my pleasure to talk with some of the other participants as they crossed the finish line at Coe Elementary School once they cooled off and caught their breath. Husband, Brad, and wife, Chris (pregnant with their second child) along with one of the youngest participants, Brad and Chris’s 5 week-old daughter, Brooke, sleeping peacefully in her stroller and wearing a bright pink sweat band. Brad and Chris, both runners, moved to Seattle a year ago from California and Queen Anne is now their neighborhood.
“We love it here already,” they said.
It appeared that Director Sobeck was right, ‘fun’ seemed to be the key word for this annual event.
Even though this year’s ‘run’ is over, it is never too late to donate to Queen Anne’s Helpline. Go to the main office at 311 West McGraw and for a small donation you will get this year’s T-shirt with the route emblazoned on the front.
But more importantly, as with this year’s participants, you will be helping the service provide food, clothing and housing to neighbors less fortunate.
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