Columns

By David Freeze

Winter Flight weekend, it’s finally here! Sunday’s 41st Annual New Sarum Brewing Winter Flight 8K usually gathers a big crowd and among them are some special stories. We have a few developing as I write this on Wednesday night. Winter Flight in all those years has had some incredible stories, some big wins and more than a few disappointments.

Chris Maxon is from Thomasville, a former All-American runner at Indiana Wesleyan University and All-Region at the University of Mississippi. He has a 28 minute and 55 second 10K at Ole’ Miss and recent highlights as a 24-year-old at the Greensboro Half Marathon and the top American at the Virginia Ten Miler in Lynchburg. Chris will attempt to break the long-standing 8K course record set in 1988 by Olympian Hans Koeleman at 23:35.

Murfeesboro’s Pete Gibson, a former Winter Flight winner, has had a resurgence as a 67-year-old and will chase his own strong 8K state age group record of 31:06 set two years ago here.

Robert Miller, the current state 5K record holder in the 50-54 age group from China Grove, will try to add the 8K record at Winter Flight. His 5K record is 16:22, set at the 2023 Main Street Challenge.

The women’s side is wide open, adding intrigue to who might have the best day. Gatsby Goode, a current high school senior at Northwest Cabarrus, will be running her first 8K after a sizzling senior season in cross country. She’s currently uncommitted for her college choice. Runners and walkers from four states are already committed to the event which includes a half-mile fun run for any age on the Shuford Stadium track, a 5K walk/run for community health and the Road Runners Club of America North Carolina State Championship 8K. The overall male and female winners, masters (over 40 years of age), grandmasters (over 50) and senior grandmasters (60 and over) will receive special state championship awards. Additional 5-year age group awards will be given in the 5K and 8K and all finishers in the fun run will get medals.

But the biggest story of all is likely one that tells about what happens to Winter Flight proceeds. Every dollar of those proceeds goes to Rowan Helping Ministries. From July 2022 to June 2023, Rowan Helping Ministries served 67,082 meals in Jeannie’s Kitchen and distributed 998,377 pounds of food provided to 3,194 households through their three food pantries. A total of 36,447 bags of shelf-stable food items went to 1,067 students unsure of where their weekend meals would come from. RHM prevented homelessness for 944 households in crisis to prevent evictions and utility disconnects with over $528,000 in financial assistance vouchers. The shelter provided services for 727 men, women and children while 287 shelter guests successfully moved to permanent housing. Two hundred and twenty-four unsheltered guests received services such as showers, primary medical care and behavioral health services, and 147 attended group mental health sessions. Educational opportunities were provided to 413 guests with classes that taught valuable life skills such as resumé building, financial planning and stress reduction.

Rowan Helping Ministries Executive Director Kyna Grubb said, “We are honored to be the longstanding community partner that receives funds from Winter Flight. Proceeds from this historic run come just in time as families in our community need emergency assistance with their heating bills. Additionally, Winter Flight builds awareness of the services we offer and increases our reach to people in need. We are grateful for our partnership with Salisbury Rowan Runners and for all the ways they support Rowan Helping Ministries.”

So, what can you do to help? Come to the races, there is something for everyone of any ability. Registration continues at runsignup.com by searching Winter Flight, and also from noon to 1:45 p.m. at Catawba’s Shuford Gym on Sunday, Feb. 4. You can donate at runsignup without running the race, just click on the donate button. Each race day participant gets one of the special Meredith Abramson designed commemorative hoodies. Forty-nine Salisbury and Rowan sponsors support the event.

My recent column about the demise of the popular Daily Mile program in Rowan Salisbury Elementary Schools drew some powerful comments. I have been assured that Novant Health, Healthy Rowan and Vulcan Materials, along with many parents and school staff, are ready to support the program. After meeting for five months, the new Rowan Salisbury School’s Wellness Committee has not addressed the issue. It seems the time has come. We’ll continue to follow the issue of who is killing the Daily Mile. Our kids need that 15-20 minutes of daily exercise. More information on Winter Flight and over upcoming events is available at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

By David Freeze

Salisbury and Rowan runners have known about the Winter Flight races for a long time. Most races have a much shorter lifespan, simply because there are challenges to put just one event on. This race has a life of its own and to keep it going for 41 years through sickness, weather, course changes and more as it has evolved into one of the best races in the Southeast is quite special. This year, Feb. 4 is race day and momentum is building for the historic event. At present, we know that it is at least the fourth oldest race in the state but I am pretty sure it is the third oldest now after another dropped off. Definitely being the oldest 8K (4.97 miles) in N.C. status keeps bringing back some of the best competitors, a fun environment and some wonderful personal stories. Plus the 8K is also the state championship event at that distance.

Here are just a few highlights over the years. The first Winter Flight was held in 1981, then was not held in ’82 or ’83 and was reborn in 1984 as a combination of 5- and 10-mile races. These races originally started and finished at the mural in downtown. The race was moved to Catawba College in 1986, also the year that the venerable 8K distance was introduced. The 8K events were very popular then but have been replaced by the shorter 5Ks as the main race distance over the years since. The Winter Flight races were postponed by a measles epidemic in 1989, and heavy snow in 1996 and 2005. I remember SRR members having to call race registrants with a plan for the postponement and new race days due to the snow. In 2001, SRR went online with races and registrations. In 2002, the only course change since 1986 occurred due to new construction for Shuford Stadium at Catawba. The race was actually moved to Millbridge and the Sloan Park area due to COVID for only the 2021 version.

Course records remain with Olympians Hans Koeleman of the Netherlands with his sizzling 23 minutes and 34 seconds in 1988 and Joan Nesbitt of Chapel Hill in 1992 at 26.48. A Kenyan runner took the male record several years ago but was disqualified for illegal substance abuse in various races more than two years later, so it has reverted to Koeleman, a former Nike executive. Queens College cross country coach Luke Greer came within seconds of the record last year.

In 2003, the Salisbury Rowan Runners began making significant charitable contributions from the race. All proceeds from the 2024 event will again go to Rowan Helping Ministries. This year’s New Sarum Brewing Winter Flight event kicks off on Feb. 4 with a free half-mile fun run on the track and open to any age at 1:30 p.m. Wheelchairs hit the street at 1:58 p.m., followed by the 5K and featured 8K race that will start at 2 p.m.

Registration is available at www.runsignup.com and by printing the form at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org. Winter Flight offers tremendous opportunities for participation to runners and walkers of all abilities and age. The fun run is open to anyone, the 5K is a moderate distance open to anyone running or walking. The 8K is geared to those who can complete the course in 90 minutes. Special thanks to the city of Salisbury for services provided that allow us to have the race and to Catawba College for hosting it. Come join us for a big day! My granddaughter, both daughters and at least one ex-wife are all registered and ready to get their commemorative Winter Flight hoodie.

The Salisbury Rowan Runners annual meeting and pasta dinner is open to anyone on Saturday evening, Feb. 3 from 6-8 p.m. Club members and race sponsors are free, and others are $10. World class ultra-marathoner Dr. David Horton will speak at 6:30 p.m. Race registration, packet pickup and new memberships will be available also.

For more information go to www.salisburyrowanrunners.org or call 704-310-6741.