Gate River Run
| Gate River Run | |
|---|---|
 Gate River Run logo | |
| Date | the second Saturday of March |
| Location | downtown Jacksonville, Florida |
| Event type | Road race |
| Distance | 15 kilometer |
| Established | 1978 |
| Course records |
Men: 42:22 (1995) Todd Williams Women: 47:03 (2014) Shalane Flanagan |
| Official site | www.gate-riverrun.com/ |
The Gate River Run (GRR), formerly known as the Jacksonville River Run, is an annual 15 kilometer road running event in Jacksonville, Florida that attracts both competitive and recreational runners. It has been the US National Championship 15K since 1994 and in 2007 became the largest 15K race in the country. It "was voted [as] one of the top US Road Races for last 20 years by Runner's World Magazine."[1] Local news media describe it as "one of Jacksonville's premiere annual events."[2]
History
The race was first held in 1978 when it was known as the Jacksonville River Run. The initial sponsor of the race was the Florida Publishing Co., which published the Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Journal. An inspiration for the race was the Peachtree Road Race, a 10,000 meter road race sponsored for several years by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. An initial planning meeting was held at the Jacksonville YMCA, with representatives of the Y, the newspaper and members of the Jacksonville Track Club. The 15,000-meter distance was proposed, to distinguish the race from the Atlanta race and the plethora of 10K road races then spreading across the country as a result of the running boom. The course crosses two major bridges spanning the St. Johns River, giving the race its name.[3]
Running legend Bill Rodgers, who is a four-time winner of both the New York City and Boston Marathons, won the first River Run. He was invited by the organizers, pending an appearance fee of $1,000, which was an under-the-table payment because of the amateur status of so many world-class athletes at that time. There was no other appearance or prize money offered. Rodgers' powerful victory helped catapult the event into the national running consciousness. On the women's side, Kim Merritt, a national-class runner in a period when women were first beginning to be taken seriously at longer distances, took home the distaff honors.[4]
Gate Petroleum became the underwriting sponsor in 1994.[5] Todd Williams holds the American 15K record with a time of 42:22 at the 1995 GRR, which he won five times.[6] Deena Drossin, who has won the GRR six times, holds the women's record with 47:15 at the GRR in 2003.[7]
An equalizer was added in 2004. The difference in time between the women's and men's 15K national records was 4:53,[7] so the elite women runners got a five-minute head start on the elite men. The first finisher, man or woman, receives a $5,000 bonus.[6] Even so, the women had only won the prize once (in 2007). In 2012, the equilizer was increased to 6:35, and Janet Cherobon won the $5,000 bonus that year and in 2013.
Race details
In 2013, total prize money exceeded $85,000, including bonus money for record-breaking performances. The event has more prize money than any major non-marathon event in the United States. There are separate but equal awards for men and women individuals, teams and masters (over 40).
| Individual Awards | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| $12,000 | $5,000 | $3,000 | $2,000 | $1,000 | $900 | $800 | $700 | $600 | $500 |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Bonus Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | Equalizer | First male or female finisher |
| $10,000 | World Record | Race winner |
| $5,000 | American Record | Race winner |
| $3,000 | Course Record | Race winner |
| $200 | Florida Cup | Fastest male & female resident of Florida |
| $100 | First Coast Cup | Fastest male & female resident Duval, Clay, Nassau or St. Johns |
Live bands perform at locations along the race course and the finish line is beside Everbank Field. Special running caps are given to the top 10 percent of racers and medals are given to all 15K finishers.[8][9]
There is a 3-day runner's expo, with dozens of vendor representatives promoting running and health-related products. Seminars with running themes are presented; typical topics are:[10] Hydration and Nutrition, Foot and Ankle Injuries, Shin Splits and Shoe Fitting, Basic Injury Care. Bill Rodgers was a special guest at the expo in 2013, talking about running and signing autographs.[11]
Following the race, Publix supermarkets hosts a celebration at the fairgrounds.
In 2013, 17,454 people registered for the race, with 15,569 runners actually completing it.[6][12] The winner was Ben True from Hanover, New Hampshire with a time of 43:38. The fastest woman in 2013 was Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, from Rome, Georgia at 49:44.[8] The related races, the Florida Times-Union 5K Run & Walk for Charity, and the one-mile Junior River Run had 2,041 and 1,873 participants, respectively.[8]
Doug Alred, who has served as race director for 31 of the 36 years of the race, said that 2013 was the 11th consecutive year of record entries.[8]
Streakers
As of 2010, there were 46 streakers, defined as an individual who has completed every River run.[13] Prior to the 2013 race, the number had dropped to 42, as age and injuries took its inevitable toll. During that race, one of those collapsed with a heart attack, but was given CPR by firefighters who were also running the race, and was revived with a defibrillator from a quickly responding emergency unit.[14]
Hall of Fame
The Gate River Run Hall of Fame was established in 2002 and is permanently located in the Riverplace Tower, on the southbank in downtown Jacksonville. Memorabilia dating from the race's inception in 1978 up to the present is on display and a five minute video gives visitors an overview of the race. Plaques for each of the 14 persons inducted into the HOF are on display.[13]
Past winners[15]
Key: Course record
| Year | Men's winner | Time (m:s) | Women's winner | Time (m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 |  Bill Rodgers (USA) |
44:46 | Kim Merritt (USA) |
55:46 |
| 1979 |  Jerry Odlin (GBR) |
46:04 | Joan Benoit (USA) |
51:47 |
| 1980 | Bob Hodge (USA) |
44:54 | Jennifer White (USA) |
53:11 |
| 1981 | Dan Dillon (USA) |
43:34 | Patti Catalano (USA) |
49:33 |
| 1982 |  Mike Musyoki (KEN) |
43:33 | Wendy Sly (GBR) |
49:52 |
| 1983 | Nick Rose (GBR) |
43:42 |  Charlotte Teske (GER) |
50:17 |
| 1984 |  Gidamis Shahanga (TAN) |
42:54 |  Midde Hamrin (SWE) |
50:12 |
| 1985 | Simeon Kigen (KEN) |
43:26 | Betty Springs (USA) |
49:25 |
| 1986 |  Arturo Barrios (MEX) |
43:18 |  Grete Waitz (NOR) |
48:53 |
| 1987 | Arturo Barrios (MEX) |
43:00 | Grete Waitz (NOR) |
49:05 |
| 1988 | Steve Spence (USA) |
43:20 | Lynn Jennings (USA) |
50:02 |
| 1989 | John Halvorsen (NOR) |
43:12 | Cathy O'Brien (USA) |
49:45 |
| 1990 | Ed Eyestone (USA) |
43:58 | Francie Larue Smith (USA) |
49:39 |
| 1991 | Steve Spence (USA) |
43:41 | Francie Larue Smith (USA) |
48:43 |
| 1992 |  Valdenor dos Santos (BRA) |
43:42 |  Olga Markova (RUS) |
49:20 |
| 1993 | Benson Masya (KEN) |
43:59 | Gwyn Coogan (USA) |
51:26 |
| 1994 | Todd Williams (USA) |
43:42 | Anne Marie Letko (USA) |
49:27 |
| 1995 | Todd Williams (USA) |
42:22 NR | Cathy O'Brien (USA) |
48:56 |
| 1996 | Todd Williams (USA) |
43:49 | Lynn Jennings (USA) |
49:45 |
| 1997 | Joe LeMay (USA) |
43:35 | Lynn Jennings (USA) |
50:13 |
| 1998 | Todd Williams (USA) |
44:06 | Jennifer Rhines (USA) |
51:00 |
| 1999 | Todd Williams (USA) |
43:59 | Lynn Jennings (USA) |
50:05 |
| 2000 | Dan Browne (USA) |
44:26 | Deena Drossin (USA) |
49:40 |
| 2001 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
43:16 | Deena Drossin (USA) |
49:09 |
| 2002 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
42:49 | Deena Drossin (USA) |
48:12 |
| 2003 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
43:31 | Deena Drossin (USA) |
47:15 |
| 2004 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
43:18 | Colleen De Reuck (USA) |
49:02 |
| 2005 | Ryan Shay (USA) |
43:50 | Jennifer Rhines (USA) |
49:21 |
| 2006 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
43:41 | Blake Russell (USA) |
49:14 |
| 2007 | Meb Keflezighi (USA) |
43:39 | Deena Kastor (USA) |
47:20 |
| 2008 | Andrew Carlson (USA) |
44:10 | Deena Kastor (USA) |
49:34 |
| 2009 | Anthony Famiglietti (USA) |
43:36 | Amy Yoder-Begley (USA) |
49:51 |
| 2010 | Mo Trafeh (USA) |
42:58 | Katie McGregor (USA) |
49:51 |
| 2011 | Mo Trafeh (USA) |
42:58 | Jennifer Rhines (USA) |
49:31 |
| 2012 | Christo Landry (USA) |
44:37 | Janet Cherobon (USA) |
49:41 |
| 2013 | Ben True (USA) |
43:38 | Janet Cherobon (USA) |
49:44 |
| 2014 | Ben True (USA) |
43:04 | Shalane Flanagan (USA) |
47:00 NR |
| 2015 | Ben True (USA) |
44:03 | Christine Ramsey (USA) |
49:41 |
References
- ↑ "Gate River Run" Active.com, Events
- ↑ Kouvaris, Sam:"10,000 Participate; Keflezighi Wins Gate River Run" News4Jax sports, March 11, 2006
- ↑ Personal reminiscences of first race director John F. Fannin and Florida Publishing Co. editor/reporter Christopher Hosford
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ "Race Winners" Association of Road Racing Statisticians, River Run 15 km
- 1 2 3 Johnson, David (March 16, 2009). "Placing first by a second at Gate River Run". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- 1 2 "Keflezighi to Defend USA 15K Title at Gate River Run". Cool Running. March 11, 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 "15K Take To Streets In 15K River Run" WJXT-TV, March 15, 2009
- ↑ "15K Information". Gate River Run. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ Spears, Angela: "Gearing up for the Gate River Run" First Coast News, March 8, 2006
- ↑ Parenteau, Chris (Mar 8, 2013). "Bill Rodgers inspires River Runners". News4Jax. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "2013 Overall Results". Gate River Run. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- 1 2 Johnson, David: "Three join Gate River Run Hall of Fame" Florida Times-Union, March 10, 2010
- ↑ L'Etoile-Lopes, Greg (March 9, 2013). "Firefighters running in River Run revive 'streaker'". First Coast News. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ http://www.gate-riverrun.com/index.html#history
External links
- Official Race website
- Official Race Producer website
- Official Team Gate website
- Race Winners of the Jacksonville River Run at arrs.net
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