Petaluma Footrace a 'gift' to community
Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 2:25 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 2:25 p.m.
When the March for Music began as a high school senior project in 2005, it consisted of about 100 Petalumans running the neighborhoods surrounding Casa Grande High School in support of a good cause.
On April 18, the renamed Petaluma Footrace is expected to draw more than 900 runners — both competitive and some first-timers — in an event that is expected to pull in about $15,000 for the Old Adobe School District's Enrich and Educate Fund, which supports technology at the district's five elementary schools.
“That they had the foresight to really fund us was a gift,” said Ricki Nickel, president of the district's non-profit Enrich and Educate Fund.
“They” is largely Casa Grande alums Chris Mason and Ian Inman, the driving force behind the first race and the organizers of every annual competition since.
“A lot of senior projects just end. They are a requirement and kids have to do them and that's it,” said Carl Triola, Casa track coach to runners Mason and Inman and their senior project teacher mentor.
“I knew them as athletes, and students as well, and they were both tremendously hard workers on the track team and cross country team, so I wasn't surprised,” he said. “I don't know of any other senior projects that are continuing on. They keep giving back to the community and they have been out of the school for years. It's a testament to them and their hard work.”
The annual race is now the Enrich and Educate Fund's sole source of income. Since the first running in 2005, the race has brought in
Superintendent Diane Zimmerman said the event has become the provider of “some much needed extra technology in our schools.”
The 1,740-student district is facing $1.8 million in cuts to a $14 million general fund budget over three years, Zimmerman said.
Vanessa Hauswald, Mason's English teacher at Casa, said the senior project is designed to channel students' interests and press them to stretch their learning. She called the Petaluma Footrace a model for all other senior projects.
“It's basically the ultimate goal for us as educators to see our students take the lessons they learn in school and apply them in real life,” she said. “These guys are doing work that benefits their community and the youth of our community. It's absolutely the ultimate.”
The event's staying power relies in part on its growth in popularity outside of just Old Adobe circles. The race is now sponsored by sportswear maker Athleta, supported by Empire Runners Club and draws athletes from around the Bay Area.
“It's a community event,” said last year's winner, Alex Wolf-Root of Santa Rosa. “It's all about the kids, it's all about the community and it's about having fun.”
But make no mistake, it's a race, Mason said.
“That first year, it was Casa students, track runners, moms and dads, pretty much people who were related to the school or the track team,” he said. “Today, demographics-wise it's more female, runners five to 77 years old, a pretty good mix of competitive runners.”
“It's starting to become a destination run,” said Debra Sammon, an Old Adobe School Board member.
The mostly flat three- and five-mile courses begin at the Petaluma Marina and winds through Shollenberger Park.
“Being able to see it grow every year is pretty exciting,” Mason said. “It's become such a big part of my life, it's almost hard to let it go. It's so much work — in a good way. There is such a feeling of accomplishment.”
For Inman, who has pulled back from much of the pre-race organization this year to concentrate on starting his own business in Petaluma, the race will always be on his calendar.
“Since the project started, it taught me a lot about organization, event planning, managing a large scale project, getting out there and talking with different members of the community,” he said. “It's opened up a lot of interaction and doors in many ways.”
For more information, go to petalumafootrace.com.
Staff writer Kerry Benefield writes an education blog at extracredit.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. She can be reached at 526-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com
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