Lansing Lighthouse 5K back in stride

The annual Lansing Lighthouse 5K and 1-mile run will return to Myers Park this Saturday morning, Aug. 28, so lace up your sneakers and come join in the outdoor fun.

Hosted by the Lansing varsity and modified cross-country teams, the 1-mile run is slated to begin at 8:30 a.m., with the 5K starting shortly after at 9 a.m.

“It’s always a really exciting time of year,” said Becca Lovenheim, head coach of the Lansing cross-country program. “It marks not only the beginning of the season but also the beginning of fall. And it’s nice to see all of the teams come together that participate and all of the runners getting ready for their fall running season, whether they’re interscholastic athletes or community runners.”

Christine Eisenhut, race director and assistant coach of the cross-country program, said the event was held virtually last year, and she and the teams could not be more excited to bring the race back in person. She explained the history of the 5K.

“There had been a 5K associated with Harbor Fest, which was a big festival down in Myers Park years ago, and then it kind of morphed into other things,” Eisenhut said. “And so, the 5K stopped for a few years, and then, we brought it back in 2016. Becca and I started coaching, [and] we thought it would be a logical fundraiser for our team and a way for the kids to be involved in the community, give back to the community. Because it’s such a fantastic community event, it celebrates healthy lifestyles and community as a whole, and it’s at Myers Park, which is just the jewel. … It’s such a pretty place to have a race.”

The 2020 cross-country season, along with all fall sports, was moved to this past spring, and Lovenheim spoke to how impactful being able to run side by side again with one another was for the team.

“We got to shake off the cobwebs from a long break due to the pandemic in the spring,” she said. “We got some racing under our belts. We got to do some fast stuff on the track. And then, the goal was really for that to roll into a summer of running, enjoying how beautiful it is to run around here, and then come back to a typical season. So, we’re excited.”

All proceeds from the race fund Lansing’s cross-country teams and allow them to have up-to-date equipment — such as reflective gear — additional racing opportunities, dinners and team-building events. With practices already up and running, Lovenheim said what this season will hold.

“I’m really looking forward to having everyone back together again so that we can get to work,” she said. “I think that this group is going to be embracing a lot of pack running, and they’ve been together for a long time, and we’ve been through a lot, so I think that’s a strength that we can build on.”

Lovenheim spoke to the importance of sport, specifically for student-athletes.

“We feel really strongly about sport as one of the places where you certainly learn grit and competitiveness, and you learn the field of the sport,” she said. “But it’s also where we develop character and a sense of community. And so, it’s really important to us that we have such a generous community that supports us, that our athletes, in turn, support the race and make sure that they are actually doing the work of it. And also, it’s a way of making sure that they’re side by side with their parents because we do need a lot of hands to help put on an event like this.”

Knowing the ins and outs of hosting a race is an important skill the coaches hope the 5K will provide to their athletes.

“We also are hoping to foster a lifelong love of running, and so, knowing how to put on a road race is something that we’re like, maybe they’ll bring that with them and hopefully get people to volunteer for years to come,” Lovenheim said.

Eisenhut emphasized that all are invited to participate in Saturday’s races.

“We encourage runners and walkers,” she said. “The park is dog friendly, stroller friendly, so we have people running. And we’ve had incredibly competitive runners run it. We have moms and dads with strollers and dogs, and we’re happy to have that as well. All ages and abilities are welcome.”

Eisenhut also reminds racers that “it is an active course, you’re in and out of Myers Park, … but you are on roads, so we discourage the use of headphones. Drink water beforehand, yet we will have a water station on the course.”

Both coaches highlighted how appreciative they and thier teams are of the Lansing community.

“Pat Tyrell and the Parks and Rec Department, they really go above and beyond to help us with this race,” Eisenhut said. “Our volunteers work it, but they help, they store some of our materials, and they keep the parks so beautifully. And they just help us in so many ways. They’re wonderful.”

“So, we’re very fortunate that the town continues to maintain trails, the Lansing town trails,” Lovenheim said. “It’s one of the favorite places, but it’s very beautiful. We get that gorgeous landscape where you’re up over the hills, and you see the fields and the lake. And that’s really probably the favorite trail that we have locally.”

“We are just really excited to be able to host this in person again,” Lovenheim continued. “And we’re grateful to our community sponsors and then also to everyone who has taken part and looks forward to doing it year after year. It’s really fun to see particularly our youngest runners getting older over the years, and they keep running it. So, hopefully, they’ll be members of our program in the future too. And we’re grateful for all the community support and super grateful that the town is so helpful in partnering with us to make it happen.”

Race registration is still open online at runsignup.com/Race/NY/Lansing/Lighthouse5Kand1MileRun, and last-minute runners can sign up in Myers Park before the race as well. Those looking to support the teams in other ways can make a donation via the donate button on the same website. And Eisenhut said, “if you see our runners out on the road, just honk and wave and slow down and drive safely.”

For more information, visit the website at lansinglighthouse5k.weebly.com/ and see you at the finish line!