Runner Spotlight - Seth Snider-Hayes

Meet the fastest Run the 502 finisher!

Why did you decide to the Run the 502?

I love ALL of the races that River City Races puts on and at the end of the day, I just LOVE racing, so why not get a special medal for it?

Favorite race of the series?

The Downtown Doubler is my favorite in the series. It is such a fun time getting to be around so many people running all the different distance, cheering each other on the whole way. I think it really shows how great the Louisville running community is.

Favorite distance?

My favorite distance over all is a half marathon, but my favorite distance of the series is the 5k. There are so many different 5k options throughout the series, you get the chance to push yourself and see how much you can improve from the first 5k to the last.

Why do you like running River City Races events?

I love that River City Races shows off the community and highlights how great the city of Louisville is. You get to experience not only the great charities and organizations that they work with, but you get to experience what it’s like to be a part of a community. You are welcomed into the Louisville running community and you are celebrated no matter what distance or pace you are running. All of the events are just so much fun to be a part of and really are a highlight of the weekend.

Do you have any running/walking advice you’d like to offer?

HAVE FUN! Whether your running or walking, just remember to have fun. Find yourself a group of friends to do the races with and just get out there and have a blast.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I would encourage everyone to do as many of the River City Races as they can throughout the year. They benefit some great organizations, they showcase Louisville, they keep you accountable, and on top of it all, they are just fun. It is also just nice knowing that, as long as River City Races is around, there are still going to be regular races throughout the year, so it is nice to just be able to support them so they can keep putting on these events. One last things, the Polar Bear Grand Prix is SOOOOOOO much fun and I would recommend these race series to everyone!

Runner Spotlight - Colin Schmidt and Richard Goranflo

Meet the youngest and oldest finishers in the Run the 502


Colin Schmidt

 At seven years old, Colin Schmidt was our youngest finisher entering an finishing eight races. With the help of Mom and Dad he was kind enough to answer some questions about his experience.

 Why did you decide to do the Run the 502?  To have fun and get exercise. (Oh and my parents signed the whole family up for the first race.)

 Favorite race of the series? The Independence Day 5K in St Matthews. I saw lots of friends. After the race, there were lots of great treats. Plus, we didn’t have to drive to the starting line!

 Favorite distance? A 5K

 Why do you like running River City Races events? Because they always have nice people. It’s not too long and not too short. The post race treats are always good.

 Do you have any running/walking advice you'd like to offer? When you are running, just keep running. Don’t give up!

 Anything else you'd like to share? I like racing my parents in the races. My mom thinks she can beat me this year. But I’m going to win!

 

Richard Goranflo

 At eighty-six years old, Richard Goranflo was the oldest finisher in the Run the 502. Richard also entered and finished eight of eight races. Richard was also kind enough to share his experience with us.

 It was a great experience to have been the oldest participant to compete in the “Run the 502” series of races for 2022 – 2023. The “502” offers a ready-made and realistically scheduled lineup of races at great venues. Further, the registration is easy and bundling of some races is appreciated. 

 My first race was the Snowman Shuffle in 2012 at one month short of 65 years of age. I think to this day, that’s why my favorite distance is 4 miles. 

 The Frostbite 5K is also a notable race that usually lives up to it name. The exhilarating temperatures usually add some speed to your pace.

 Some of the races are theme oriented and the costumes of the participants (owners and pets) are very well done showing a lot of time and effort in their creation. Also, in a couple of the events, the usual direction of the run was reversed and added an interesting twist to the race. 

 Running River City Races has always been an easy choice for me. The management has proven to be responsible, dependable, and safety minded. Emails are promptly answered, and any problems are quickly resolved. 

 Regarding advice to other runners, I have found, at least in my case, that there are some days you just don’t feel like running. But wait, don’t let that feeling (or should I say that attitude) fool you. Other than after a few minor injuries, I have always felt better after a run. It’s all about maintaining a positive attitude. Henry Ford’s quote that “the person who says they can’t and the person who says they can, are both right.” This is very applicable to running and it’s your choice which one you will be. 

 I can’t remember ever meeting a grumpy runner. Runners tend to be friendly, good natured, and sociable people. So, get on your running shoes and join the crowd. And by the way, don’t wait until your 65 years old to get started. Good luck.

Runner Spotlight - Kirstin Schmidt

Kirstin tied for most races completed in the Run the 502 so we’re sharing how and why she did it!

My family and I started the 502 race series on a whim.  We thought it would be an event the whole family would enjoy.  Our boys (5 and 7) got their first taste of how great the running community is and our daughter (1) took in the scenes in the double stroller (which was also a rest destination for the boys if they got tired). We thought the 502 series would be a great way to experience more of the Louisville area (since we moved here in 2020) in addition to getting us all to participate in a fun physical family activity. It did not disappoint!

 Picking a favorite race is definitely difficult as each has a fun memory. If forced to pick one, I think I’d say my favorite was the Downtown Doubler in New Albany. I really hadn’t explored that area previously, I loved running along the river and had a great time cheering with my kids for the longer distance racers once we had finished.  We even saw some hot air balloons over the river!

 The 4k distance was nice because my 5 year old can do nearly the whole race without taking any stroller breaks.  I do enjoy chasing my 7 year old in the 5K distance though - he’s speedy and hills don’t slow him down.  My goal this year is to give him a run for his money!

 We love running River City races because they are local, organized, fun and sometimes show you a part of town you may not have seen before. We also like seeing familiar faces - I felt like by the end - we had become part of the local running community.

 My running/walking advice would be just to get out there and have fun. If you were to ask my five year old, he’d tell you that everyone needs an awesome running playlist. Some racers have likely heard his playlist playing from our speaker attached to our jogging stroller!