June 24, 2015 at 1:17 p.m.
Ninth annual YMCA Hodag run to take place Saturday
Ninth annual YMCA Hodag run to take place Saturday
Dana DeMet, executive director of the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce, says the event is a great way to utilize two of Rhinelander's most notorious features during a fun event for the whole family.
"I think the Hodag Run For Your Life is great because it highlights two of Rhinelander's most recognizable features. One of which is the Hodag and the other is the Oneida County Courthouse," DeMet said. "It incorporates it in a great way. People see it on the logo, they associate it with a fun event that the entire family can participate in. Not only can older members of the
family take part in the 5 or 10K but then even the kids will get to participate in a fun race around the courthouse that is actually led by a real live Hodag."
The Chase the Hodag run is a free event, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Rhinelander. All children who participate in the chase will receive a free T-shirt that features artwork by the winner of the Hodag Run Creative Art Contest, Bella Newlin.
The kids chase was not a part of the event when it began nine years ago, but was added shortly thereafter.
Marilyn Duschl, active older adult coordinator for the YMCA, said the run was originally an idea brought to the Y by members of the Kiwanis Club.
"In early 2007, Terry Goldbach, Julie Berndt, and other members from the Kiwanis Club of Rhinelander approached the Y about hosting a 5K and 10K run that would support the YMCA of the Northwoods. We thought it was a great idea and felt this community event would be a great way for people to become more active," Duschl said.
The following year, YMCA staff found a way to make the event family friendly by adding the kids chase.
"In 2008 the Chase the Hodag free kids run was added with 100 kids chasing the Hodag around the courthouse. Families became involved in the event," Duschl said.
Since then a stroller division has also been added and new to the event this year is the Corporate Cup Challenge for local business.
Employees and family members from businesses in the area can participate in the run, walk or stroller walk and the business that has the most registered participants finish will be crowned the victor. The winning business will receive an honorary plaque to place on display. They YMCA will also display a trophy with winners names displayed.
DeMet said events in the area are always trying to find ways to include their sponsors and local businesses in activities throughout the community and Hodag Run For Your Life has found a great way to do just that.
"I know that events are always looking for different ways to incorporate corporations or businesses to put a team together," DeMet explained. "We always rely heavily on local businesses for sponsorship and I think what these events are looking to do and we are even trying to do it here at the chamber of commerce, is include our sponsors in a bigger way than simply just monetary.
"We want them to really feel like they're a part of the event and help shape the event, so for these kind of team aspects like (the Hodag run) where you can enter a corporate team or a business team, that builds a nice camaraderie within your own business and then also gets that business involved in the event itself."
Every year brings more and more participants to the event.
"With much community support we had approximately 200 runners the first year," Duschl stated. "This year we expect 450 plus runners and 200 children."
DeMet said Hodag Run For Your Life brings people from surrounding areas into Rhinelander, boosting tourism within the community. This boost brings more money into the economy.
"It brings in several hundred runners from across the entire area and the Rhinelander tourism and marketing committee supports the event because they see a number of day travelers as well as overnight travelers that may come out for the event," DeMet explained. "I don't know the actual breakdown of what percent of people are coming from a certain mileage or anything like that, however the state department of tourism counts essentially a day traveler anywhere in the area of $50 to $60 per person for each day traveler that there is, so even if you bring a few hundred people from out of the immediate area that can be a nice influx of cash into the economy."
While the money gained throughout the community from tourists benefits the area economy, the events registration fees are also distributed back through the community.
Proceeds raised during the event are used for the YMCA's support campaign, which is used to ensure community members have the ability to participate in programs through the YMCA when they may not ordinarily be able to afford them.
DeMet said the YMCA is one of Rhinelander's greatest assets. He thinks it's essential that everyone in Rhinelander have the opportunity to utilize it.
"The YMCA of the Northwoods is one of the pillars of our local community. It provides recreational and well-being and good-living avenues for all members of the family and all segments of the community, so rich or poor the YMCA has multiple opportunities for people to have fun and enjoy living in the area," DeMet said. "The more the YMCA is able to offer opportunities to those who wouldn't normally be able to afford it, the better because I would love for every person in the Rhinelander area to be able to be involved in the YMCA."
Hodag Run For Your Life starts at the intersection of Davenport and Stevens streets. More information about the event and registration can be found on the YMCA of the Northwoods website www.ymcaofthenorthwoods.com.
Lindsey Nylund may be reached at [email protected].
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