By NANCY MARTIN
nanjmartin@mac.com
Kingston runners of all ages will gather early for the 4th of July Fun Run and the start of a busy day in Kingston. Check in and registration tables will be set up at the Kingston Medical Center at 26001 Barber Cutoff Road in Kingston. Runners of all ages will pick up their T-shirts, race numbers and race maps.
The race begins at 9 a.m., but runners are encouraged to arrive early to complete their check in.
In past races, there have been moms pushing baby strollers, dads pulling the little ones in a wagon and even people that race with their dog beside them.
This is the sixth Fun Run in which Sarah Wahl, a stylist at Harbor Hair in Kingston, will participate. Wahl, who has been running since her sophomore year at Kingston High School, loves the friendly small-town atmosphere of the 4th of July Fun Run.
“It’s my favorite sport and it’s fun to run in your own hometown and say hello to everyone,” Wahl said. “It’s also nice to have your friends cheer you on.”
Dave Roberts started the 4th of July Fun Run in 2008. For the first two Fun Runs, Roberts’ brother Peter traveled from New Hampshire to help run the event. When Roberts joined the Kingston Rotary, the 4th of July Fun Run became a joint fundraiser of the Kingston Running Club and Kingston-NK Rotary. The proceeds benefit Rotary, and also help fund the Kingston High School Track and Cross-Country teams.
If the name Roberts sounds familiar, it may be because Dave Roberts’ three daughters were all runners at Kingston High School. Ruby Roberts is now at Washington State University, Marina Roberts is a senior at Colorado State and Annie Roberts is at Humboldt State. They have all continued to run in college.
Runners can choose between three different races: a 10K race, a 5K race and a 1-mile race. Registration forms, course maps and elevations are shown on the web site at www.kingstonrunning.com. Pre-registration is encouraged to speed the check-in process and also to save money. Pre-registration fees are $25 per adult and $20 for those 18 and younger or older than 60. An additional $10 fee will be added for day-of-the-race registrations.
Kingston Rotarians will be staffing the check-in and registration tables, distributing T-shirts, directing traffic, assisting with timing and presenting awards shortly after each race. All three races finish in Village Green Park.
After the cleanup of Village Green Park and the Kingston Medical Center, Rotarians will meet to march in the 4th of July parade. Watch for the blue antique car and the blue Rotary banner to see who was chosen as “Rotarian of the Year.” Rotary’s new president, Clint Boxman, will join club members and honorees in the parade.
If you would like to know more about Rotary, join us at our weekly meeting on Wednesday at noon at the North Kitsap Fire & Rescue headquarters fire station on Miller Bay Road. We gather at 11:45 for lunch before the noon meeting. Email me at nanjmartin@mac.com for directions or more information.
