Inaugural event one of many in Taylor Park this weekend
ST. ALBANS — The Franklin County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s first annual St. Albans Raid Half Marathon is a unique event that combines town history with athletics, according to race director Jay Cummings.
“The neat thing about this race is that it draws in two kinds of people: athletes, and people with an interest in historical events,” Cummings said.
The race celebrates the infamous St. Albans bank heist of October 1864, and the runners will travel the same route (a portion of the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail) that the Confederate raiders took after robbing the St. Albans Bank, the Franklin County Bank and the First National Bank.
The event is taking place during the St. Albans Civil War Heritage Weekend and Cummings said he hopes to schedule a speaker dressed in period clothes to explain the history of the event to the crowd. Civil War re-enactors will be camping Civil War-style in the park during the weekend.
The race will begin at Taylor Park at 9 a.m. with a shot fired by a Champlain Valley Historical Reenactors member.
When developing the event, Cummings said he was looking to bring tourists to St. Albans, noting that marathon runners will travel all over the country for a race. There are few late summer distance races, so this event is beneficial for athletes in training, Cummings said.
“I thought it was an opportunity to create something in the area that would be well received and well attended,” he said.
All runners will be given bibs and t-shirts that have full-color prints of the race logo, designed by Rebecca Manchester. Organizers will also issue bandit masks to runners at the starting line.
Race winners will be awarded glass picture frames with the race logo on the bottom and a photo of the race inside. During the start, a professional photographer will take pictures of the participants and then print off the pictures during the race to be framed that will be given at the awards banquet.
The fastest male and female runners will receive themed prizes consisting of a replica flag from 1864, a replica Raider’s gun (Navy 36 Caliber Pistol), replica buttons and belt buckles from a Confederate soldiers uniform, and a photo copy/replica of money of the time period, all put together in a shadow box.
The FCRCC is hoping for just over 100 participants, and each runner will receive a three-dimensional engraved medal with the race logo. The race will be held this Sunday, Aug. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. from Taylor Park in St. Albans. Online registration closes on Friday, Aug. 16, at noon. Registration will be accepted in person until 3 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 17.
By NATALIE HANDY
St. Albans Messenger Community News Editor
Preregistration for the race can be done by visiting the chamber’s web site. Click here for information about the full weekend of events.
