Giving Back: The Next Generation

The Hungerford Trail Races have a history of giving back.

Many of you know that The Hungerford Games started as a fundraiser.  On Saturday, October 6, 2012, the coaches of Crossroads Charter Academy were riding the bus back from the Portage Invitational, talking about training and racing and life.  All of them loved long-distance races, loved cross country, loved flying through the forest on a fall afternoon, and loved the undiscovered gem that is the Hungerford recreation area.

I’m not sure if it was Brandon Seaver or Kendall Schroeder, but someone put two and two and two together and suggested that we should host a race.  A half marathon, marathon, and ultramarathon.  In Hungerford.  

Of course, we didn’t want our race to be just like every other trail race.  We wanted it uniquely to express the arboreal essence of a good Michigan trail.  After a lot of brainstorming, we came up with the foundational, essential elements of the race.  Wooden medals, branded with the logo.  Hiking sticks to ultramarathoners who complete the course between sunrise and sunset.  The sassafras logo.  The Hungerford Games were born.

Fast forward three years, and most of us have moved on from CCA.  However, our love for Cross Country - for helping to instill in young people a love of running and of nature - is still strong.  In 2015, we allowed runners to choose a local running organization to which to donate.  This coming year, we’re broadening this program so that a portion of your entry can go to benefit ANY youth running program you’d like, anywhere in the country.

Did you have a coach who inspired you?  You can run a great trail race and, at the same time, give a little back to any youth running program you’d like.  Say Thank You by designating your preferred youth running program in the “Next Generation” line on your registration.

I’ve coached young runners from kindergarten through high school for a dozen years, and I can’t tell you how much seemingly small contributions can make.  Schools are increasingly cutting back on funding for athletics, and running programs at most schools fly far below the radar and receive very little funding. We had to fundraise to get shoes for kids who couldn’t afford them, to get a real tent for our team, and to get the supplies we needed to host our first home meet in sixteen years.  There are countless other dedicated coaches who are spending their own money to buy the things that their students need in order to really have a running experience.  Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a big difference.

In three years, those little contributions have added up to raise over $10,000 to get kids involved in the first and the purest of sports: running!  This year, you can choose exactly who to say Thank You to when you register to run the 2016 Hungerford Trail Races!

Register today, and help the Next Generation get up and running!

The Original Hungerford Hero

If you've run Hungerford, you've probably seen this guy welcoming runners at the finish line:

That's Kendall Schroeder, one of the creators of the Hungerford Trail Races.  He was on the bus ride when the race was invented, and he's the guy who hand-crafted the logo.  Although his schedule doesn't permit him to RD year-round, he's up until 2:00 a.m. with us on race morning, cutting orange slices and getting things organized -- and then he's back at PT Plus by five to start our big day.

Race weekend is an absolutely insane 72 hours, and we really couldn't pull it off the way we want to without his indispensable work.

As a lifelong runner and a two-time Cross Country Coach of the Year, Kendall has been a tireless supporter of runners and the running community for years.  He puts in these crazy hours because he enjoys seeing participants reach for and attain their dreams, and to be a part of making it happen.

Sign up for the 2016 Hungerford Trail Races, and when you see him at the finish, remember to say, "Thanks!"

A Big Thank-You

Another Hungerford Hero

This year, we contacted Mitch Richter at Lakeside Motor Sports about renting an ATV for our event.  To our surprise, he offered to let us use a Polaris Ranger for free, immediately becoming one of our very valued event sponsors.  Then, on Friday before the race, he showed up with TWO Rangers.

They were awesome.

We've tried out a couple of different UTVs at our previous runnings of The Games, and these were by far the most rugged and versatile that we've used.  They handled a little mud and a lot of sand without the slightest problem, got out the race course quickly and easily, and even ran relatively quietly.  If you're in the market for a UTV, a Ranger is a great option - and we highly recommend swinging by Lakeside Motor Sports!

Getting Hungerford ready is a tough job,
but these babies were more than up to the challenge!

Hungerford Heroes, Part 1

I'm not sure how closely the blog is/was followed, but during this year's Race Director event recap, it occurred to me that this is a forum that provides a unique fit for some of our needs, and that I ought to revisit it.

One of the things that we wanted to include is a spotlight for some of the people who contribute so much to make Hungerford a successful race.  Here, I can go into a little more depth and give some of them the credit they deserve.  Call it a "Hungerford Heroes" section.

To start, I'd like to thank Jeff Thorne at PT Plus.  He provides us the use of his facility, free of charge; it's the perfect spot to start the perfect little trail race.  Many of you noticed that PT Plus is super conveniently located; it's just off the highway for those who are driving in, and exceptionally close to lodging options (within easy walking distance of The Country Inn).  It's got showers available to help you clean up after the race.  It's right across the street from Trinity Church's ample parking.  It's got great space for the tent and all our supplies.  It's awesome.

I hope you've had a chance to spot the PT Plus sign as you rounded the last curve and approached the Hungerford finish line.  It's a welcome sight, for sure, and a great landmark for weary runners.

Thanks, Jeff and PT Plus, for helping to make The Hungerford Trail Races an little marvel of a trail race!

A great place to start a race!

Charitable Choice

Organizing a race is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in running.  I love to see runners out enjoying the beauty and challenge of Hungerford, and when they cross that finish line, their sense of satisfaction and joy is contagious.  If you've been one of those athletes, I hope your memories of the day are even half as fond as mine are.

But I think that directing a race is really only my second-most gratifying experience.

Coaching youth athletes, from kindergarten through high school, has been perhaps even a little better.  When you coach an athlete, not only do you get to witness their struggles and their triumphs, but you get to walk them through the entire process, and to see from day to day their continued effort and growth.  You get to know them more directly, to help them study for exams and discuss their plans for the future.  You get to train alongside them as they progress through their career.  That long road makes the eventual victories even more meaningful.

Brandon and Rob, my fellow Directors, feel the same way.  Both have spent thousands of hours and dollars of their own to help young athletes become better runners and better people.  We know that across the country there are hundreds of other coaches who share that passion.

We've used The Hungerford Games to raise funds for the running programs at Crossroads Academy in Big Rapids -- where we all used to work and coach.  We've moved on professionally, however, and would love to spread the love to other area programs that are helping to raise up the next generation of runners (and customers :-)

When you register for the 2015 Hungerford Trail Races at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=29863, you'll be able to choose from a list of area running programs, including local high school programs and Girls on the Run (http://www.girlsontherun.org/), to receive a portion of your registration fee.

And as always, another portion of the proceeds will go to the Manistee National Forest to help preserve the beauty of the area.

Support youth running, support the Manistee National Forest, and experience Hungerford!  We hope to see you in September!