What a day! Eighty-five hardy folks dusted off their sneakers and joined us for the Tug Hill Soggy Sneaker 5K trail race/walk this April. The event was held at our very own Joseph A. Blake Wildlife Sanctuary in Rutland, only 15 minutes from Watertown.
Some came to run, others to walk with friends. Many were there because they were itching to do something after a winter of being cooped up. Everyone wanted to experience the woodland trails.
The race was staged in waves of 10 minutes (with 10 runners per wave) to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Virtual participation was welcome, too, where people registered to run/walk the course at another time.
“It was so much fun. I love that kids were there, getting dirty, having fun outside. It’s inspiring to see so many people who care about the land and want to do something as a community,” remarked Kylie Schell, the event organizer who volunteered her time and talent to make this a success.
All registered runners received a Tug Hill Soggy Sneaker pint glass and a custom-made finishers medal created by Kylie.
A special thank you to…
Kylie Schell,whose passion and event skills made the Soggy Sneakers 5K a reality. Kylie has extensive experience
with trail runs and planned the course, logistics, and outreach. With trail running/walking becoming increasingly popular, Kylie notes, “There’s a need for more trails close to where people live and work, so they can get out in nature, easily.
The land doesn’t have to be hundreds of acres to have an important local impact. We need fun, healthy ways to get outside and connect with nature and our community. The Sanctuary is a good example of that.”
Thank you to our lead Soggy Sneakers sponsors
GYMO
, a local architectural, engineering, and land surveying company knows land. And they also know about livable communities and giving back. With more than 40 years of regional professional experience and service, GYMO brings cultural and local knowledge to every project across the North Country. That’s been true for conservation work as well.
GYMO regularly sponsors their employees to attend events like Soggy Sneakers and come out for trail workdays. They’ve also donated the preliminary design for our grant application for an all-access trail at the Sanctuary. It’s local businesses, like GYMO, who are demonstrating that being part of the community goes beyond the expected. Thank you!
Check out these enthusiastic Snoggy Sneakers participants!
