Superintendent of
Perry Township Schools
The fourth annual Coach Hathaway’s Running South will be held Saturday at Perry Stadium and Southport High School’s gym, both at the corner of Shelby Street and Banta Road.
Designed for toddlers to senior citizens, the day of wellness will feature a kiddy romp and a 1-mile run ($5 entry fee; $10 after Thursday), a 5K run ($10 students, $15 adults; add $5 after Thursday) and a 10K run ($10 students, $20 adults; add $5 after Thursday).
The event brings a major focus on health to our faculty and student body. Not only do we have running clubs in our schools’ conditioning for the run, but our preschoolers have even been learning and practicing proper stretching techniques.
Early registration may be completed at www.ptef.org. Proceeds will support the Perry Township Education Foundation in its mission to provide grants to teachers to develop creative instructional lessons. Since 1994 the foundation has awarded more than $1 million.
Tom Hathaway, who died April 22, 2012, ran 131 marathons, many half-marathons and countless other races. At 79 he was the oldest runner to finish the inaugural Running South. He accomplished the feat of running one marathon in each state, placing him into the prestigious 50 States Marathon Club.
Hathaway taught and coached cross country and track at Perry Township Schools for 44 years, mostly at Southport High. He also coached at the University of Indianapolis and was an instructor for Ken Long & Associate’s training programs.
The schedule of events:
• A health fair from 7:30-11 a.m. will feature about 50 booths and various demonstrations. Participants will include Cyber Blue and Cyber Cards robotics teams, American Red Cross bookmobile, Franciscan St. Francis, chiropractor Kevin Storm, Gentle Dentist, Baxter YMCA, Perry Senior Citizens Services, the Southport Lions Club and Not My Kid, a drug prevention program.
• Registration and packet pickup for 5- and 10K events is from 7:30-8:30 a.m.; they start at 9 a.m.; packet pickup for 1-mile run is from 8:30-10 a.m.; it starts at 10:15 a.m.
• Kiddie romp with mascots, 10:45 a.m.
In addition, information booths will be manned by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Kenny’s Academy, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Central Nine Career Center and Southern Plaza.
This is an exciting event for the community. I look forward to seeing you at our celebration.