30 Years and Running

Community First Fox Cities Marathon prepares for 30^th annual event

 By Tara Perre

Contributor and Race Director Tara Perre, center, with daughter and son, Abbey and Jacob Perre. Photo courtesy of Tara Perre.

Editor’s Note: Silent Sports Magazine is honored to have new Race Director, Tara Perre, present the story of the venerable Community First Fox Cities Marathon. She is an avid runner, having completed two marathons, five half marathons, two relay marathons, and numerous 10Ks and 5Ks. She lives in Appleton, WI, with her husband and two children.

Additional Editor's Note: Like so many events in 2020 because of COVID-19, the 30th running of the Community First Fox Cities Marathon, scheduled for September 26, 2020, has been postponed until 2021. This was a difficult but needed decision by Tara Perre and her team. However, the following story goes into the reasons why this marathon in particular has been so well-attended, long-lasting, and meaningful to runners and many communities, that it remains relevant and important. Therefore, Tara Perre's thoughtful offer to withdraw this story from publication was thankfully received, but rejected, with her okay, of course. 

For Kelly Luther, the Community First Fox Cities Marathon, presented by Miron Construction, has become an annual tradition. “The first marathon I did was the Fox Cities Marathon,” said the veteran runner from Appleton, WI. “It was a bucket list event for me, and all I wanted to do was finish the marathon and check it off of my bucket list. I had so much fun running that first marathon, that I had to keep running them. Now, 30 years later, I guess marathon running turned into a habit and not just a check mark on my bucket list.”

Luther isn’t alone. When she toes the start line this September 20, she’ll be joined by 16 others hoping to complete their 30^th Fox Cities Marathon, along with thousands more running the marathon, half, or relay marathon.

Kelly Luther, Appleton, WI, 2d from left, is all smiles after finishing her 100th marathon at the Community First Fox Cities Marathon in 2017. All photos courtesy of the Community First Fox Cities Marathon.                                                                                                                                   

“The energy and the excitement from the Fox Cities Marathon are special,” she said. “From the race organizers to the volunteers to the participants in the race and crowd — the entire experience is one to be cherished. I look forward to the race every year, and I know that it will be a very well-organized event with lots of community support.”

This year’s marathon weekend of events is September 18-20.

“This is a special year for us,” said Laurie Butz, Community First Fox Cities Marathon lead. “We’re celebrating 30 years of miles, moments, and memories. Over the years, participants have logged more than 1.5 million miles, shared millions of moments, and countless memories. Race weekend is all about creating a platform for everyone to achieve their goals and create lifelong memories. We can’t wait to create more.”

Fun Starts Friday with Kids Events

The weekend of events starts on Friday with kids races at Neuroscience Group Field at the Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, home to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball team.

“Getting kids active at a young age is an important part of our event,” said Tammy Lefeber, Kids Events Lead. “The Diaper Dash, Toddler Trot, and Kids Fun Run offer a wide range of distances for crawlers on up. Plus, there are games, face-painting, food, and a Mascot race with Fang from the Timber Rattlers. Seeing the kids have fun and take pride in their medals, it’s cuteness overload.”

Young runners take off during the 2019 Guardian Kids Fun Run at the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Stadium.

The Huggies Diaper Dash is open to babies who can crawl. If they are able to walk or run, they can graduate up to the Toddler Trot. Participants from both events receive free Huggies products.

The Guardian Kids Fun Run offers children a mini-dash, quarter-mile or half-mile distance on the Timber Rattler’s field.

Saturday features 5K and new 10K

On Saturday morning, the excitement moves to Neenah where runners and walkers start and finish at Riverside Park.

“By Saturday morning, the finish line chute and spectator areas are set for Sunday so our 5K and 10K participants get the excitement of a big race finish,” said Butz. “Plus, the course runs through historic neighborhoods with views of Lake Winnebago and the Fox River.”

The Ascension 5K is open to walkers and runners and allows strollers and dogs. The course shares the start and finish with the 10K and includes two water stations. The race benefits the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundations’ Cancer Fund with $5 from every adult entry.

New this year is the SCHEELS 10K. This race is also open to walkers and runners. After the shared start, it branches off to include a recreational trail and an additional water station before rejoining the 5k for the finish.

Distance events take center stage on Sunday

Runners take a tour through the Fox Cities starting in Menasha before continuing through Appleton, Buchanan, Darboy, Combined Locks, Kimberly, Fox Crossing, and finishing in Neenah.  Along the way, the course takes advantage of the unique character of the Fox Cities.

“Our course features neighborhoods, trails along the Fox River, parks, and the longest pedestrian bridge in Wisconsin, the Trestle Trail Bridge over Little Lake Butte des Morts,” said Butz.

A runner passes the Neenah Harbor near the finish line at Riverside Park. All Saturday and Sunday races share this stretch along the Fox River.

Marathon co-founder and current member of the Marathon Board of Directors, Gloria West, is proud of where the race is today. “This marathon is special in that it engages so many communities along the course,” she said. “So many spectators and volunteers who are willing to dress up and just make it like a 26-mile parade.”

Gary Nettekoven of Appleton agrees that the community involvement sets the Community First Fox Cities Marathon apart from others he has run. “The crowds have been consistently great,” said Nettekoven, who is looking to complete his 30^th Fox Cities Marathon. “And I like the new, more scenic trails that we now run.”

Another 30-year hopeful, Henry Rueden, from DePere, WI, reminisced about the course changes. “The course has changed a lot since that first one which finished in downtown Appleton,” he said. “There where farms which no longer exist. I am fairly certain the Fox Cities Marathon has one of the most cities, villages, and towns that I have run through to complete a marathon. It’s a great race, organization, support, friendly people, nice course, and normally great weather.”

Reaching for $1 million milestone for the community

In its early years, the race had a prize purse and attracted elite runners. But that didn’t fit as well with the marathon’s mission to “promote health, wellness and community—one step at a time,” so a change was made to focus the money on a community give-back.

The tradition started in 1998 with a gift to the YMCA.

“The Community First Fox Cities Marathon has been an incredible partner since its inception,” said William Breider, President and CEO of the YMCA of the Fox Cities. “The funds we’ve received have been used to support many aspects of the YMCA, including membership, childcare opportunities for families who need financial assistance, and for key program areas like LiveStrong and Camp Nan A Bo Sho. Over 1,200 people have now graduated from the LiveStrong cancer program and the proceeds from the marathon have played a pivotal role in sustaining this initiative.”

Breider and his team have paid it forward by rallying volunteers each year, helping form running and walking groups and promoted the weekend of events to their members. “Our Corporate Team absolutely loves managing the Finish Line food tent,” he said. “We witness countless stories of triumph, perseverance and the emotions that people encounter after accomplishing their goal of completing a marathon. It’s one of my favorite days of the year.”

Since 1998, more than 50 organizations have benefited from the nearly $1 million raised through race proceeds. Groups have included running clubs, high school cross country teams, local police, nursing students, veterans, at-risk youth, the homeless, domestic abuse victims, as well as numerous non-profits such as My Team Triumph, The American Red Cross, Special Olympics, and more.

“We’re hoping to go over the $1 million mark this year,” said Butz. “We do this for our community, I’m humbled to be a part of it. We’re grateful to everyone, runners, sponsors, volunteers, who have helped over the years.”

Traditions run deep

In 1991, Community First Credit Union CEO Maurice Dresang took the chance and co-founded the race with West, who was the first race director. That first year featured the Marathon, 10% Marathon and 1% Kids Race.

Over the years, events were added, including the Relay Marathon in 1994, the Half Marathon in 1998, the Half Marathon Competitive Walk in 2000, the Diaper Dash/Toddler Trot in 2016, and, this year, the 10K. In 1995, the 10% Marathon was changed to a 5K and the 1% Kids Race became the Kids Fun Run. Challenges were also added to encourage health, wellness, and community with the School Challenge in 1999, and the Business and Spirit challenges in 2005.

The Appleton Post-Crescent newspaper’s lead story headline that first race weekend announced: “Marathon backer looks for win in the long run—Gamble by Community First may pay off.” The story then quoted the late Dresang: “We were kind of waiting for an event that we could sponsor that would be tied in with fitness and family."

West thinks the gamble paid off and is grateful to Dresang and Community First’s current President and CEO Cathie Tierney. “Cathie has been involved since its inception and deserves a lot of the credit,” West said. “She’s been the backbone of this community event. The marathon has far exceeded any vision I ever had with the many distances it offers and how much growth there has been in community involvement. One thing we worked hard to do in the beginning was to create a lot of hoopla on the course and that still remains strong.”

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