Over 600 people took part in the Rotary Harvest Hammer events and Color Run, on Saturday morning, September 19, 2015, in Morrison, IL. As usual runners, walkers, and bikers were greeted at the finish line by compliments from announcer Don Beswick. He said, repeatedly, but sincerely, “Good job! There’s a kick! There’s a burst at the end! Good job, folks!”
Get the race results here at OnlineRaceResults.com. Click here for the 5K results. Click here for the Duathlon results. Click here for the Team Duathlon results.
Click here to see Rotary photos of the event.
Rev. James Camp and Mayor Everett Pannier crafted the ten wood plaques. Don Jevne presented them and ribbons.
Jason Schisler, below left, of Verona, WI, took first place in the 5K, Men 30-34 category. He won last year, too, and was “a few seconds faster” then. Shaking hands is Chris Scott, who took second from the Men 40-44 age group in the 5K event. At right are winners of the Team Duatlon. Biker Mike Campbell, who just turned 53, partnered with runner Pastor Mike Selburg, Morrison.
The digital clock drew runners to the finish. Those entered in individual or team duathlons were diverted past Beswick on the hay wagon–rather than crossing the timing pads–and circled the wagon to begin the biking portion of the 21 Mile Dualthlon. Team runners removed their banned chip device from a leg and handed it to their biking teammate to wear. That person walked the bicycle across a timing mat and began the final part of the race.
Wonder what runners and bicyclists listened to during the Rotary-sponsored Harvest Hammer? I asked a dozen finishers, “What’s playing in your earbuds?”
- Richard Beckstrom, Morrison, IL, answered, “Good, old time rock and roll. I like the classic rock and roll songs. It makes the time go quicker for me, when I’m out there running. I’m 60 years old and still going strong! I was ten seconds off my personal best.”
- Cameron Bierman, Morrison, said, “Sugar Ray on Pandora keeps my head straight [and] keeps me going.”
- Grace Crowe, Dixon, IL, listened to, and participated in, “Zombies! Run,” a story line app about a zombie apocalypse. “The story says, ‘There are zombies behind you!’ [She] had to distract the zombies during four or five minutes, then [she listened to] music. It was a mixture: Lady Gaga, Jason Mraz, and Incubus.”
- Don Mathey, Thomson, IL, told me, “The Coaches’ Corner, WCCI, Savanna[, IL]. I don’t know if it makes me go any faster. I like to hear what the coaches have to say.”
- DevinMouw, Morrison, ran with Chris LeDoux on his “I Heart Radio app. [He] can skip songs [for variety. Music helps him] to relax, keep composure.” His time was “good, 21 or 22 minutes–about average. I do it [the 21-mile duathlon] with my father,” Scott Mouw, who biked the countryside.
- Kathy Schmidt, Morrison, answered, “Disco!”
- Adam Smith, Morrison, remarked, “I had a running play list that gave me an eight-to-ten minute mile [tempo. It was] a Pop-Punk mix. I ran a little slower than I wanted.”
- Dave Thorngren, Milledgeville, IL, replied, “All Country. I haven’t downloaded any new ones. It keeps your mind off [things] and is relaxing.”
- Scott Vance, Morrison, heard “a wide range of 70’s classic rock music,” one of which was “Metallica. It takes my mind off how tired I am! It’s a distraction. In the beginning, it gives you a pace [and helps you] not to think about 800 things going through your mind. I hit ‘shuffle’ and [listen to] whatever pops out. I did better last time I ran it.”
- Cindy Voquardsen, Davenport, IA, said “Random songs: Usher, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Pink. Most of them are ones I’ve always listened to when I exercise. It’s just a habit.” Music may have helped her complete the course “in 31.5 minutes–my personal best!”
- Lisa Vos, Morrison, used the following artists, due to their tempo: “Meghan Trainor, Prince, and a Chipmunks song.”
- Amber Williams, Sterling, IL, prepared “a whole mixture: Blink 182, AC-DC, and Kelly Clarkson. It’s fast paced and keeps me going.”
Boys were the winners of bicycles. Levi Milder, left, won in the Wee Run class. Tristan Ohlsen was chosen from the Fun Run participants. Bryce Mead, right, owner of Mead’s Bike Shop, 414 Locust Street, Sterling, IL, was the generous donor. He took first place in the individual Duathlon event, completing the 5K (3.106 mile) running course, then biking almost 18 miles.
The second annual Color Run began at 11:30 a.m. Sponsors were Farmers National Bank, 1st Gateway Credit Union, and Kunes Country Auto Group Morrison. This short but enjoyable event bridges the Harvest Hammer races to the artistry of Paint the Town. Those registered in the Harvest Hammer paid no additional fee; others paid $10 for the Color Run.
People arrived at the High School wearing pristine, white t-shirts–better to capture the colored powders–and sunglasses to protect their eyes. Clothes, shoes, skin, and hair became an evolving mass of performance artistry. Running quickly to the end was not the goal–the goal for many was to “collect” body art. They slowed as they ran the color gauntlet.
This dynamic explosion of color was created by the Pons and photographed by Coach Katie Jakubs.. Left-to-right are Sarah Screnock, Randi Heusinkveld, Carissa Ferry, Sydney Beveroth, Kelly Pannier, Avary Bielema, Dannica Connelly, Kelsey Becker,Claire Coons, Alli Hogue, and Emma Renkes.
Morrison High School Pons and Cheerleaders had the duty and pleasure of dusting runners across the ages, who processed north on Genesee Avenue and Genesee Street to Wall Street. Three Freshmen and seven Varsity Cheerleaders held the final position, between Park and Morris Streets. Left-to-right are Mackenzie Phillips, Demery Haan, Kenzie Severson, Courtney Stearns, Maya Zinke, Brooklyn Gallentine, Rachael Spangler, Madison Blean, Peyton Smith, and Meghan Sterenberg.
Optometrist Bradley Yaklich followed the last entrants of the Color Run. A Morrison Police Department squad followed him; streets were them opened to traffic. This is the second year Yaklich has organized these “happy” final moments of the Harvest Hammer. In the center are Ona Allison, left, and Elizabeth Yaklich.
Residue after the run was mesmerizing; dappled sunlight brightened the pigment in patches. This final serendipitous art work was left to admire for only a few moments, before little boys began to roll in the residue!
