RIVERFEST RUN IS FAMILY AFFAIR

The Family Area won't be the only place to find family activities at Riverfest. Plenty of family activity can also be found during the 16th Annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run.

"It's most definitely a family atmosphere," said Ron Keller, whose family has run at Riverfest the past few years. "You can take in the run, then go to the Riverfest afterward." Ron Keller's wife, Vicky; his daughter, Parlen; son, Jared; and he will all be running again this year.

This year's run will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Convention and Visitors Bureau parking lot at Main Street and Broadway in downtown Cape. The course will follow north on Main Street and take a right on Cape Rock Drive. Runners will then circle around Cape Rock Park and travel back along the same route to the finish line.

"As we go around Cape Rock and come back, we usually meet and see how each other is doing," Keller said. "It's nice to see how everyone is doing."

Joy Gilbert, who is helping organize the run with the Cape Girardeau Road Runners Club, said the run is very scenic. "It's a nice run," she said. "It's especially scenic once you get over the hill."

Gilbert, who ran the race herself for the first time last year, said she took her children and grandchildren along. "Riverfest is really a family thing," she said.

Trina Graham, who ran in the run last year and often runs with her husband and five-year-old child, says running together as a family is a good thing for the children. "It offers an opportunity for them to do something their parents are doing," she said. "I think there should be more families running together."

For those who would rather run less competitively, especially if the entire family is running, there are a few options. A non-competitive run/walk will begin at the CVB parking lot at 7 p.m. for those who want enough time to finish the 5.25-mile course before the course closes at 8:30 p.m.

A one-mile Fun Run is also offered. Runners of the one-mile course will begin at 7:35 p.m. in the CVB parking lot and follow Main Street down one-half mile, turn around and come back.

Finishers of the run do not come away empty handed. In the 5.25-mile run, savings bonds and trophies will be awarded to the top three overall males, the top three overall females and the top male and female masters runners. Masters runners are runners who are over 40.

Trophies will also be awarded to the top three finishers in every division.

In the one-mile run, trophies will be given to the top overall male, top overall female and the top three finishers of every age group. Every finisher in each run will receive ribbons.

"We have some very competitive, fast runners," Gilbert said. But she said a majority of the 300-some runners are recreational runners who want to be part of a big race and just have fun. "We like to call it the 'Big Fun Run.'"

Entry forms can be found at Howard's, Universal Health and Fitness, the Show Me Center, Main Street Fitness, the Osage Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cross Point Animal Hospital. Participants can also pre-register in person June 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Universal Health and Fitness.

On race day, participants can register and pick up race packets between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the CVB parking lot.