New partnership triples runner turnout at Inner Harbor 5K, grows running community
After their 5K race, runners posed with their nearly-earned medals. The event brought the community together through sport. Nikita Suharu | Contributing Writer
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As hundreds of racers crossed the finish line at the Inner Harbor 5K, they were greeted with upbeat music pumping through speakers, a photobooth, free merchandise, and rejuvenating beverages. Alongside the occasional joke to “remember to hydrate,” runners were met by loud cheers from the sidelines.
“That runner’s high, there’s nothing like it,” Jess Vinci, a member of the 5K’s planning committee, said.
On Sunday morning, Syracuse Run Club partnered with Inner Harbor 5K for their 17th annual race. Pace Run Club, an on-campus running group, also collaborated on the event. This year’s race tripled previous turnouts with over 600 runners, co-founder of Syracuse Run Club Gabrielle Lloyd said.
The event was sponsored by Monster Energy and other businesses, which provided free energy and hydration after the race. Alongside tents and a DJ booth, runners celebrated their accomplishment with food, music, and raffles, sporting newly earned medals.
The event supports local organizations like It’s About Childhood & Family, Inc., Safe Space, and Syracuse City School District Athletics.
Syracuse Run Club founders were inquiring about starting their own race when Michael Gilbert, founder of the race, presented them with the opportunity to take over the 5K. It allowed them to collaborate and build upon the foundation Gilbert had already built with vendors and sponsors, Lloyd said. Through the club’s media influence and marketing, registration from past years tripled this year, she said.
The planning for this year’s event began in February. Their dedication came from their deep passion for running, Vincig said.
Syracuse Run Club and Pace Run Club share origin stories: both began with passionate runners wanting to build a community of runners who also love the sport.
Last July, 20 friends came together to share their passion for running with the Syracuse community. Soon, the group became an average of 110 runners each week, forming Syracuse Run Club.
Similarly, Pace Run Club, a student-run organization, was founded to create a safe space for students at Syracuse University to run together. They’re passionate about including all running levels and providing an on-campus place to run. Because Pace is very inclusive to all runners and is always open to adding more members to the team, they attract large crowds at every run, Duane Tilghman, Pace Run Club’s co-founding Vice President, said.
“I always wanted to start a run club because I would just run on my own and see a lot of students running, and I figured it would be a good idea to build a community of runners,” Tilghman said.
Syracuse Run Club invited Pace to become a collaborator at the event, which was a big milestone for their club, Tilghman said. Tilghman said he’s continuously in contact with Eli Green, co-founder of Syracuse Run Club, who’s been a big supporter and ally of Pace.
Lloyd said running is a mental health escape for her. She’s been running since high school, and as a young mom, she turns to the sport whenever she needs a rejuvenator.
Sydney Herrick and Bridget Walker, two participants, decided to take on this race by using the buddy system. Their goal to complete a half-marathon every summer led them to Syracuse Run Club, which is where they found out about the 5K.
Mario Perez, a participant in the race, said he accomplished his goal of running the race in less than 30 minutes. He felt confident at the end — it was his first 5K in a while, he said.
Herrick said the key to any good race is a running buddy and a great playlist, two things she sported on Sunday afternoon. She said the large turnout helped motivate her to run her best.
“The trail was really beautiful, and it was really encouraging. They had a lot of people,” Herrick said.
