Run Fest highlights Greenville's vibrant running community

The rush of cold air as it fills a runner's lungs gives a feeling that is somehow more alive than the moments of inhale in a daily routine. No one knows this better than a runner.

The sport is a merger of body and soul; a way to challenge one's mental strength while battling physical will.

“I run for the joy of running. I run for fitness. I run to clear my head. I run for fellowship," says Kerrie Sijon, Administrator for Greenville Track Club.

This Saturday, thousands of runners will gather at Fluor Field in Greenville's West End to put their bodies to the test for one of the Greenville Track Club’s premiere events, the Spinx Run Fest.

Close to 3,000 runners will don race bibs in one of five SRF events, which include a mile fun run for kids, a 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. For some it will be a first race, for others an annual undertaking.

Spinx Run Fest is just one of dozens of race days held in Greenville City and County each year. The city granted permits for 47 races in 2015. Each permit applicant pays the city $120. A dozen or more additional races take place in the county in a typical year.

To say that Greenville’s running community is thriving is an understatement. Beyond city and county races, there are hundreds of kids involved in Cross Country teams and running clubs in Greenville County Schools.

Last Saturday more than 800 Greenville County middle and high school students competed in the County Cross Country Championships at Woodmont High School and on any given Tuesday and Thursday morning roughly 150 students at Summit Drive Elementary can be found voluntarily running around a playground out in front of their school, in hopes of earning a medal or trophy, or just a free t-shirt.

"There's no pressure. You can run if you want to, you can walk,” says Sara Ryberg, who runs the SDES running club. “We’re not yelling or telling them what to do. We just let them get out some energy.”

For some, the love of running starts young. For many others it's an acquired taste, one The Greenville Track Club is happy to nurture.

The 44-year-old club hosts close to a dozen of the local races (including SRF) throughout the year and boasts 1,200 members of all ages and experience levels.

According to its own members, it’s a haven for all who love the sport.

Greenville embraces the running culture better than many other cities.

“If you compare it to other states in the South, It’s a breath of fresh air,” says newcomer Tracey Ashall, a transplant to Greenville whose recently lived in both Georgia and Mississippi.

“I think what makes it cool here is that we do have a lot of people here to share it with," says Sijon.

For newcomers, like Ashall, it’s also a relatively easy way to get involved in the community. “Immediately, my running tapped me in with making friends and meeting people, even getting my job. It really has helped.”

Running’s communal nature also presents those who love it and those who want to try it with a unique opportunity to work together, whether on training runs or at monthly meetings.

“Through Greenville Track Club I’ve been able to embrace more and more runners. Runners from all different areas and different abilities,” said Sijon who has 57 marathons and a few ultra-marathons under her own belt.

Sijon and other seasoned runners act as mentors for younger or less experienced runners.

Many members of GTC are also part of a running group on Facebook which schedules runs every day of the week through word of mouth. Every afternoon or evening a member of the group will post a suggested route for the following day. Others may jump on the feed to say they’ll be there or they may just show up at go time.

If you’ve ever been on Main Street in the dark hours of the morning, you’ve likely run into some members of the group. They often leave from the Starbucks near Falls Park.

While there’s no guarantee that every member of either group will ever run Spinx Run Fest or any other marquee race, everyone in the running community benefits from the added attention to the sport.

"They do a really good job of getting the community involved," says Matt Verley, a member GTC and pace setter for SRF. "The courses give more people in the community an opportunity to watch the race, than a lot of other races."

The Spinx Run Fest courses change slightly each year, according to Verley. Some years the changes are bigger than others, but they always start and finish at Fluor Field.

This year, some race routes will showcase Augusta Road neighborhoods adding a new opportunity for community involvement.

Greenville Track Club passed out flyers at the homes that are located on the route, inviting neighbors to a drop-in question and answer session. Neighbors were also given care packages with things like t-shirts, posters and cowbells if they signed up to be Spinx Run Fest Fans.

Race day is never just about those wearing race bibs. Teams of organizers put months of preparation into events like this one.

In the case of Spinx Run Fest, the preparations are largely headed by the Greenville Track Club’s two paid employees; Ed Hughes, who not only designs the courses, but will serve as race director and entertainer extraordinaire on Saturday, and Sijon who began working behind the scenes at SRF after running it in its inaugural year.

In addition to doing the heavy lifting leading up to SRF weekend, Hughes and Sijon also coordinate hundreds of race weekend volunteers whose own sweat equity will earn their organizations money or support from GTC.

"We need them," Sijon says, describing the craziness of race day. "We have hundreds and hundreds of people asking for information. It is absolutely non-stop, non-stop, but it’s fun.”

Meals on Wheels is the largest volunteer groups for this weekend's event. They're sending 100 of SRF's 300 plus volunteers, others will come from Travelers Rest High School’s BETA Club, girl scout troops, Greer Stars and more.

According to Sijon, organizers and volunteers begin working at 5 a.m. on race day. "Last year the last person finished the marathon at 2:30. So we were there that whole time. It's a long day, but we’re moving. It’s amazing, high-energy. It’s so fun.”

The first race begins at Fluor Field at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday. Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more at SpinxRunFest.com.

Schedule of events

• Spinx Carolina Marathon, 7:15am
• Run Town USA Half Marathon, 7:45am
• Downtown Greenville 10K Run, 7:45am
• Big Punkin 5K Run/Walk, 8:00am
• Spunky's Kids Run, 8:05am