Local students ‘run’ to Feed Store

By Kathy Thomson

A total of 147 runners, including students and their adult leaders, tried to negotiate the streets and alleys of Albany to reach the Feed Store without being spotlighted by the official volunteers, and according to youth minister Kathryn Hamilton, it was a great year for “Running Man.”

The junior class won the event, with all 10 of 10 returning uncaught, for a 100 percent return, according to Hamilton.

“With the different color spotlights, we had way lower numbers of fake spotlighters reported this year,” said the youth minister. “The kids didn’t have wrist bands cut off by fake spotlighters, and they had a ton of fun! We’ve only heard of one injury and as far as we know, it was minor.”

Hamilton led the students in a devotion and went over the rules before they left to be transported to their respective dropoff zones at around 9:30 p.m. last Saturday, Oct. 26. 

“We are so thankful to be in a community which allows activities like this to take place,” said Hamilton. “We had a great volunteer turnout and plenty of help.”

The participating Albany junior high and high school students are required to stay with an adult runner at all times.

Each class is taken to a different location, and tries to get the largest possible percentage of their runners back to the Feed Store without being located by the spotlighters.

Over the last few years, there have apparently been some fake spotlighters who decided to “prank” the runners, so this year the real spotlighters had an official ID and a special colored spotlight.

“We may continue to use different color spotlights again in the future, since that went so well,” Hamilton said. “But we are always open to ideas on what can be done to improve the event.”

Winners

By the time the night was over and the adrenaline rush subsided, the 11th grade class managed to get 100 percent of their runners back to “Home Base” without getting caught by spotlighters and won the 22nd Running Man event.

The 10th grade came in second with a 92 percent success rate, returning 24 of 26 runners uncaught.

The eighth grade and the seniors tied for third, with a 71 percent return to home base. Five of the seven participating seniors were successful in evading the spotlighters, as were 17 of 24 eighth graders.

Fifth went to the seventh grade, with 20 of 34, or a 59 percent success rate.

The freshmen were hot on their heels with 58 percent (15 of 26)  returning uncaught.

The Feed Store’s annual Halloween alternative event was originated by the youth organization -IMPACT as a substitute for less desirable Halloween activities and has proven to be extremely popular with local youth.

The classes are dropped off in groups, and the older classes start from locations that are more difficult, with a greater distance to traverse to get back to the Feed Store.

Adult volunteers help set up, register, and serve food during the evening. Volunteers also run with the youth, as well as drive and ride in the spotlighter vehicles.