Melvin’s gone, but runners remain

News

June 12, 2017 - 12:00 AM

The Charley Melvin Run, a staple of Iola summers since 2009, is no more.
But that’s not stopping a group of running enthusiasts from planning their own 5K the weekend of July 15.
Since early May, an anonymous emailer has sent out a plea to others to come to Iola, anyway, for what is being called “The Backwards Bomber 5K.”
The plan is to gather at the courthouse bandstand at 10 p.m. July 15, and then run the old Melvin Run route backward.
“Again as a disclaimer, this is not an ‘organized’ run,” one email noted. “It will be every runner for themselves. There will be no registration, no fees, no official timing, no water stations, no cool Thrive T-shirts, and no traffic control.”
Aside from the route, the only “rule” is to encourage participants to wear bright clothing and carry flashlights for traffic safety.
The group has an email list of about 400 people. A Facebook page, now the group’s primary mode of communication, has garnered 500 friends.
“We, the Anonymous Runners, don’t have the manpower or the time to recreate the entire event,” the organizer told the Register in an email. “An official, organized run would have too much overhead. That’s why we’re keeping it simple and so we went viral. Our hopes are that someone or some group will see how much the event is missed and was enjoyed by many that it could possibly come back in full force in the future.”
There’s no way to tell how many runners will  show up, the person said.
“The truth is nobody may show up or maybe 1,000 people might.”
 
ANY AND all are invited to partake.
“The run is the activity,” the organizer said. “I mean, if you want to juggle, jump rope, or practice your acapella while you run, any activities are encouraged. We are really pushing for everybody to do the 5K or even just to come walk the square to join in the ‘mad’ness. We just want to see people getting out and active.
“This event is totally free to the public,” the anonymous poster continued. “If you want to support the cause show up and run. Being anonymous means we can’t accept any funding from any person. Getting people out and active will definitely be the most rewarding part of it. However, if anyone is open to paying or contributing to us, leave it with DB Cooper and he’ll surely pass it on.”

TO REMAIN abreast of the Backwards Bomber 5K information, seek out the group on Facebook, or send an email to [email protected]. Flyers also are being printed and distributed throughout Iola and elsewhere in Allen County.
“We plan to remain anonymous even when the run has come and gone,” the organizer said. “We may be your next-door neighbor, the person behind you at the checkout, or even the sales associate themselves.”
 
THE CHARLEY Melvin Mad Bomber Run For Your Life traces its roots back to 2009, when it was part of Iola’s sesquicentennial celebration.
Over the next few years, attendance grew steadily to the point that 1,000 runners and walkers participated in the annual event.
Two groups, Thrive Allen County and Allen County Crime Stoppers, used the occasion as a fundraiser.
The fun run’s unusual starting time — 12:26 a.m. — marked the exact time Melvin, a strict prohibitionist, lit several sticks of dynamite and destroyed three local saloons in the process in July 1907.
Inflatable attractions, outdoor movies and music concerts also were a part of the annual festivities.
Attendance lagged a bit in recent years, however, and the arduous planning required to run the event convinced organizers to pursue other fundraisers.

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