Running Man event back on track

By Donnie A. Lucas

Running Man, which has become an Albany tradition, is set for Saturday night, Oct. 30 starting and ending at The Feed Store.

Billed as the ultimate hide-n-seek game for youth, the event will blanket the streets and alleys of Albany as participants are dropped off in teams to make their way back to the “home base” at The Feed Store without being detected by spotlighters.

The doors will open at the Feed Store at 9:00 p.m. following the Fall Fest at the elementary school, with the actually “running” starting about 9:45 p.m. The event is open to local students in grades 7-12, with local alumni college students and adults serving as spotlighters attempting to capture as many of the runners as possible.

The grade level or team that is successful in having the largest percentage of members return undetected is the winner.

“This event is intended for Albany junior and senior high students only,” Feed Store executive director Tisha Wilkins said. “Any college runners must be Albany graduates and will be placed with a younger group as a leader. Adult runners are also needed as leaders as well.”

Local residents are asked to be aware that the race through town is happening and not mistake it for criminal activity and call law enforcement.

Runners are supposed to run on the streets and alleys and stay off private property if at all possible.

Each of the groups in the competition will have at least one adult volunteer, and runners are supposed to stay with their group.

“If we have kids returning without a leader, they will not be counted for their class,” Wilkins said. “Staying together in groups with adult leaders is the safest way.”

Older students already out of high school are sought to help with either spotlighting the runners, or helping with check-in, paperwork, and refreshments at the Feed Store.

Wilkins said there will 10 official spotlighters, who must be pre-registered and include at least one person 18 years old in the vehicle.

“We will again be giving the spotlighters a special lens of a particular color to indicate they are official,” she said. “Runners will be instructed not to pay attention to anyone claiming to be a spotlighter who does not have the proper colored lens, which is being kept secret until just before the start of the race.”

She noted that it will not be the typical red light or the color used two years ago at the last event.

“There is a new color for this year, and runners should also check that their captors have on a special spotlighter colored bracelet before surrendering and riding with a spotlighter.

“We have had problems some years in the past with “fake” spotlighters,” Wilkins said. “Law enforcement officers will be patrolling for us and stopping anyone who is not official. Please don’t spoil the fun and safety of the game by breaking the rules.”

Signatures Needed

All participants must turn in signed permission slips in order to participate.

College aged students and adults will also have waivers to sign in order to take part in the event.

Registration forms and permission slips have been available at the high school and at the Feed Store.

“There will also be forms at the front door the night of the run for parents to sign if they didn’t get one in advance,” she said. “Parents can come in and sign when they drop their kids off, but no one can participate without a signed permission slip even if a student is 18 years old.”

Volunteers are asked to call Wilkins in advance at 325-660-7443 to sign up.

“We have a few spots left for spotlighters, and then we still could use several non-runners and adults to volunteer,” she said. 

She added that varsity sport players are not eligible to participate in the run, but they can volunteer if they contact Wilkins ahead of time.

Without as many local youth ministers in place currently, Wilkins is seeking the help of others in the community.

Running Man originated 24 years ago as an alternative to less desirable Halloween activities, and has proven to be extremely popular with local youth, attracting large numbers of participants.

Wilkins is concerned that since the event was not held last year due to COVID-19, combined with the high school band competing at the area marching contest on Saturday and not returning in time for the event, that the numbers will be down this year.

The winner of the event is the group that returns the highest percentage of players to the Feed Store without being captured.