Run for Home to raise money for Habitat projects

The Run for Home Road Runners Club is gearing up for the 19th running of the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Run for Home, a two-day schedule of running and walking events designed to promote community fitness and raise money for Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio.

The Run for Home will be held April 11-12 and includes events ranging from a free kids run to a half-marathon. Nearly 300 people have already signed up to participate.

All proceeds from the Run for Home will benefit Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio. The money will help finance construction of a new home in Tuscarawas County. Over the past 18 years, the Run for Home has generated $284,200 for Habitat projects in Tuscarawas County.

Participants in the half-marathon and team relay will run on a newly revised course with fewer hills that organizers say should result in faster times. Race organizers are offering a $200 prize to any first-place finisher who sets a new Run for Home half-marathon record. Megan O’Neil set the women’s record last year with a time of 1:17:18. Nik Schweikart set the men’s record with a time of 1:09:38 in 2011.

The Run for Home Road Runners Club also is offering a $500 prize to anyone who wins both the half-marathon Sunday and the 10K race Saturday, April 11. All participants who register for the 10K, sponsored by Route 250 Health and Performance, and the half-marathon are automatically entered in the Second Sole Challenge and will compete for special awards.

The Sunday half-marathon and team relay route begins and ends at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia. The course travels through New Philadelphia and Dover to Dover City Park, then returns through the Becker Creek neighborhood and past Crater Stadium. Hoodletown Brewing Co. is sponsoring a post-race party that will include drawings for door prizes and live entertainment.

The weekend also includes a variety of running and walking events Saturday, April 11. The Allied Machine and Engineering Family Day includes a 1-mile fun run/walk, 5K race and 10K race. Additional activities include a kids run, face painting and a photo booth.

“Saturday is really a family day with the kids’ run and other activities,” Race Director Matt Ritzert said. “The 1-mile event features special discounts for families and groups to make it affordable for everyone to participate.”

Registration is open for all events at www.runforhome.org.

Race organizers also are recruiting volunteers for race weekend.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Run for Home,” Volunteer Coordinator Sheila Samson Witt said.

Volunteers are needed for duties ranging from assisting participants on the racecourse to distributing water at the finish line. Volunteers may contact Witt at 330-447-0099 or by email at shera205@icloud.com. Volunteers also may sign up online using the link on the home page of the Run for Home website. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and may enjoy refreshments provided for race participants.

All activities will be headquartered in the Tuscora Park dining hall.

The schedule provided is:

The schedule provided is:

Saturday, April 11

8-11 a.m. — Packet pickup in the Tuscora Park dining hall

9 a.m. — Kids run

9:30 a.m. — 1-mile fun run/walk

10:30 a.m. — 5K/10K start

12:30 p.m. — 5K/10K course closes

Sunday, April 12

6-7:30 a.m. — Packet pickup in the Tuscora Park dining hall

7:30 a.m. — Half-marathon/team relay start

11 a.m. — Half-marathon and team relay course closes

11:30 a.m. — Post-race party at Hoodletown Brewing Co.