Run United bounces back, set for April 30

Bill Bengtson, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·4 min read

Apr. 16—A casualty of COVID-19 concerns is on course for a complete rebound this month, with the return of "Run United," a fundraiser for the United Way of Aiken County.

The event, fully known as the Aiken Electric Cooperative Touchstone Energy Run United, was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, but it's on track for the morning of April 30, offering four options: a one-mile trot for kids, and the adult choices of five kilometers (3.1 miles), 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and a half-marathon (13.1 miles). All participants in each race category will receive a medal, souvenir photo and T-shirt, and cash rewards of $4,100 are to be distributed among top performers.

Among those looking forward to the event and planning to cover some mileage is Will Williams, who has the 5K on his mind. "I enjoy seeing everybody and all the energy down there in the festival area, on Newberry Street, and knowing that the money that's raised goes to support those in our community that need it," he said.

Traffic will be affected in a variety of areas, and temporary closure is planned for parts of Newberry Street, Two Notch Road, Powderhouse Road and South Boundary during the event. South Boundary, one of Aiken County's most popular scenic spots, is to be on the route for all of the runs.

Aiken Electric and various sponsors have made a charitable donation of over $185,000 since 2014 to the local United Way of Aiken County on behalf of Run United, according to a submitted article published March 19 in the Aiken Standard.

Registration fees are tax-deductible and, at this point in the process, are $70 for the half-marathon, $55 for the 10K and $45 for the 5K. Registration for runners and volunteers is open through midnight on April 28. There will be no same-day registration. The first 500 children aged 3-9 can register for the one-mile trot for free. Check-in begins at 6:30 a.m.

"I look forward to participating this year," said Williams, who is largely known as the president and CEO of the Economic Development Partnership. "Not only is it a good way to see so many members of our community, but it's also a great way and a fun way to raise money for the United Way."

One of the event's most consistent boosters since its creation in 2001 has been Karl Odenthal, a self-described "5K guy" who has also helped through his former role with the Aiken Department of Public Safety, when he focused on logistics, to help keep vehicular and pedestrian traffic from coming into conflict. He has been on board, in one role or another, for each presentation of Run United.

"I think it's a well-run event, and it gets good advertising, it gets good runners and they have prizes for the top winners," Odenthal said, noting that planning for each year's event goes on throughout the year.

The 2022 version, he said, will offer a welcome change in terms of the course, offering runners "cleaner lines," in terms of visibility in traveling from one point to another.

"My favorite thing about it is the race course, because you get to see different parts of Aiken ... and it's flat — not a bunch of hills," said Marty Sawyer, with the Aiken Department of Public Safety. He said he is planning to run the half-marathon, which will be his fourth at Run United.

Cash prizes are to go to the half-marathon's first-, second- and third-place overall winners and age-group winners (male and female). Additional rewards, including gift certificates, plaques and trophies, will be given to first-, second- and third-place overall winners and age-group winners (male and female) for the 5K and 10K races. Age groups for the multi-mile events are 15 and under, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-79 and 80 and up.

Starting times are 7:30 a.m. for both the 10K and half-marathon, 7:45 a.m. for the 5K and 9:30 a.m. for the kids' run.

Among the sponsors of this year's event are Security Federal Bank, Breezeline, Chick-fil-A, Chandler Law Firm and First Citizens Bank. The public sector is also on board via Aiken's municipal government and Aiken County's government and school system. Aiken Electric serves nine counties: Aiken, Edgefield, Barnwell, Saluda, Orangeburg, McCormick, Lexington, Calhoun and Greenwood.