Festival of Miles Is Recruiting Runners
During the fall of 2007, Brigette Schutzman was a prominent cross country and track runner at Saint Louis University. In late December, she was involved in a horrible car accident that left her in a coma for six weeks. Doctors were unsure if she would walk – let alone run – ever again.
In the spring of 2008, Mike Rathmann was an all-state high jumper and senior at Saint Louis University High School. Several weeks after graduating, he was paralyzed from the waist down, while vacationing with his family.
Brigette and Mike are inextricably bound because of their mutual tragedy. However, they are also linked together because of a unique track event put on in their honor called the Festival of Miles.
“Initially, this was going to be a one-time event,” said Ben Rosario, co-owner of Big River Running Company and founder of the Festival of Miles Foundation. “We had a successful turnout in 2008 and raised a substantial amount of money for the Schutzman family’s medical bills.”
Several weeks after the first Festival, Rosario received a phone call about Mike Rathmann’s accident and immediately decided to make the Festival an annual event.
Now in its third year, Festival of Miles slated for May 22 and presented by Under Armour, has grown from a word-of-mouth get together to a highly attended community event at Saint Louis University High School. For only $5, spectators can watch nine different competitive races, with all proceeds going toward an athlete in need. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at St. Louis University High School. Running events include the Saint Louis Track Club elite men’s mile, a celebrity 100 meter dash, a women’s mile, a men’s masters race, children’s 100 meter dashes and an invitational junior high mile.
“We want to bring together people who might not normally attend a track meet,” explained Rosario. “We want them to see just how fun and exciting the sport is and we want to help one of our own in the process.”
A new addition for the 2010 Festival of Miles is a Kids One Mile race, which is open to boys and girls in grades 1st – 8th.
“The one mile is open to children of all fitness levels – I can’t stress that enough,” said Rosario. “This is not just for the so-called ‘fast kids.’ If your child loves to run, we want to see him or her out on the track.”
The fee to participate is $15 and includes an Under Armour technical shirt, chip timing to keep track of each child’s pace and one entry into the Festival to watch the nine other events. Parents can register their children online by going to the kids races section on the Festival of Miles website. Slots are filling up quickly, so parents are highly encouraged to register right away.
“Our hope is to get kids hooked on running early, so that it becomes a lifelong passion,” said Rosario. “Plus, where else can a young person run in front of thousands of people cheering them on, or get an autograph from some of the fastest runners in the country? I guarantee that they won’t have more fun at any other event.”
Rosario credits the St. Louis community – and its enormous capacity for giving – in helping to sustain the momentum for this year’s Festival of Miles.
“It is unbelievable how much St. Louis and the St. Louis running community continually gives back to those in need,” he noted. “From all of our volunteers working behind the scenes to our two major sponsors – Under Armour and the Saint Louis Track Club – the support has just been astounding.”
Each Festival of Miles has had its own endearing moment. In 2008 Bridget Schutzmann, who was only four months removed from her accident, stood up and took several steps on her own at SLUH’s track. In 2009, U.S. Olympian Leo Manzano won the men’s elite mile in 3:55.29 – the fastest time ever run in the State of Missouri.
And for 2010?
“When we introduce Mike Rathmann to the crowd,” said Rosario. “That will be hugely significant and will really get people out of their seats and cheering.”
Courtney Irwin is a marketing and public relations specialist for Big River Running Company. Big River Running has a store at 14059 Manchester in Manchester, MO as well as one in South City at 5352 Devonshire Street. Their third store opens May 15 and is located in O’Fallon, MO at 2548 Highway K.
If you’ve got a Twitter accout? Big River Running can be found at @bigriverrunning. Courtney can be found at @courtneyirwin.