by Doug Wyatt - Race Coordinator
I expected to have about 20 participants this year based upon our number of pre-registrations. A little less than in past years. As people started trickling up to the registration table, I thought we had reached our maximum number of entries. People continued to arrive and register for "SunRun" however. By the time that I had returned from a last minute check with our Water Table, Dick Williams had registered a full 30 participants.
This year's "SunRun" was composed of a diverse group of people. Young and old, athletic and out-of-shape, men and women were all present for "The Race Of Apollo". With the help of some local publicity from Kansas City's weekly magazine "The Pitch" we were able to reach out to a much different group of people. Some of whom had never heard of "SunRun" or "The Heartland Naturists" before. It was really nice to see some new faces and know that they had made the effort to attend our 5K event.
SunRun's course consists of five natural Kansas prairie fields. This year the majority of our race was run in the large back field where we keep our water station. Our serious runners completed two different criss crossing laps along the perimeter and through the middle of our remote field. This situation allowed them to have more access to Sandy's water table.
Sandy has setup and operated the "SunRun" water table since the race first began in 2001. Complete with a fluorescent orange vest and fluorescent orange nail polish, Sandy is hard to miss at the entranceway to SunRun's remote back field. No one would want to miss the Gatorade break anyway. Under a hot July sun the liquid break is an absolute necessity. Even our winning runners will grab a cup as they pass Sandy's table.
The winners of the 2004 "SunRun" men's division are
Micha 17:01 Tom 17:08 Dan 21:09
Dick Williams did a quick survey of several large 5K events and found that Micha's time of 17:01 would have earned him fourth or fifth place in a field of 500 or so. The annual SunRun is attracting a base of true athletic talent. Tom had been our three time champion of SunRun. Although Tom achieved the "silver" this year, his time improved by nearly two full minutes from 19:22 in 2003 and 19:00 in 2002.
The winners of the 2004 "SunRun" women's division are:
Kaitlin 37:28 Shye 43:03 Heather (started but didn't complete the course)
Two of our winners were pushing strollers. I guess the question then becomes; "If you are pushing a stroller/jogger in front of you ... Does your child beat you"? No!! We gave the medals to the mothers for doing all of the work ( as usual ).
I tried to bring "SunRun" into the ranks of respectable running events by having a set of customized medals cast. I wanted to associate "SunRun" and the Heartland Naturists to our own Kansas City region. Kansas City has always prided itself upon being a "City of Fountains" following its' City Beautiful movement at the turn of the last century.
My symbol for "SunRun" had to be one of the prominent nude statuary pieces which graces the many fountains in Kansas City, Missouri. Two fountain pieces were obvious contenders for the symbolism of "SunRun"; "The Muse of the Missouri" fountain between 8th & 9th Streets along Main Street (downtown Kansas City ) and "Pomona" located in the Country Club Plaza. Although the statuary of a mostly nude Roman goddess protecting and gathering the fruits of her orchards is impressive, the unabashed completely nude figure of the Muse was the perfect symbolism for "SunRun". Very body positive!!!
Most everyone whom I met seemed to express the fact that they had enjoyed themselves at "SunRun". Naturists events are unique because they provide a freedom which is not allowed for in typical United States society. The ability to get outside and exercise over a large amount of outdoor area with other persons who share your interest in body freedom makes "SunRun" a very different event.
Apollo Main
Sun Run Main
Heartland Message
Board -the public message board
Kansas City area nudist info
Heartland Naturists email address:
Jul 24, 2004