Sprint for Monroe Turns 20 this Sunday

Nineteen years ago, the first annual Sprint for D.A.R.E. got underway. The charitable 5 kilometer road race featured 210 people competing on a course with fellow runners ... and an assortment of cars and trucks. The roads were not closed off that year, Race Co-Chairman Paul Moyse recalls.

"You don't want to mix cars with runners," Moyse said with a chuckle, during an interview in his town chiropractic office last week. "That didn't go too well."

The race, which is currently known as the Sprint for Monroe, has had police officers close off traffic to the course ever since, but Moyse said an ocassional car slips in when a homeowner living on one of the streets pulls out of a driveway.

During the race, a volunteer is also stationed at each intersection so kids cannot get lost.

Since 1993, the number of runners is close to 600 annually and an average of $10,000 is raised for the Monroe Police Department's S.H.A.R.E. program, which is similar to the D.A.R.E. program, but tailored to the needs of children in Monroe. About half of the proceeds benefit community causes. The event has raised over $150,000 total throughout its history.

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This Sunday, the 20th annual Sprint for Monroe will get underway at Wolfe Park. The 5K walk and run begins at 9 a.m. Awards include cash prizes and trophies for different age groups.

Prior to the race, the Fun Run starts at 8:15 a.m. The Fun Run has been a part of the event since its fifth year, according to Moyse. It's about a half mile for the younger children and a mile for the older kids, and it takes place in the park.

The event also features raffle prizes including a mountain bike from Cycle Fitness, a mid-size watch from Swiss Army Brands and a Polar Heart Rate Monitor. This year's title sponsor is Kimball Group and presenting sponsors are Newtown Savings Bank, Mr. Handyman, Minuteman Press of Monroe and Pepsi Cola. It's presented by the Monroe Police Department.

The co-director is Monroe Police Sgt. Pete Howard and George Puglisi, a former co-director, is coming back to help this year.

"It's a fundraiser," Moyse said. "But the most important thing to me is you're getting people moving and doing something healthy for themselves. It's a good goal for people to have."

Many people run together in teams. This year, Moyse said Team Swift Kick has 36 runners and AYSO Soccer has 35-40 runners.

Last year, Moyse said S.H.A.R.E. did not need any of the funds, so $2,500 went to Project Warmth, $2,000 for thermal imaging devices for the Monroe Police Department, $1,000 for the Masuk Color Guard, $1,000 for Masuk track equipment, $1,000 to the Monroe Food Pantry and $500 for the Monroe Police Fishing Derby. Moyse said $1,000 was kept as seed money for this year's race.

'A Great Inspiration to Others'

Moyse remembers a number of people who stood out over the years, including George Buchanan, who won the first race when he was in his mid-30s, then came back and won it all again at age 50. Zofia Wieciorkowska was the top female runner for 10 of the first 14 years. The youngest runner ever was Michael Saia, who participated at age 4, and the oldest is George Whitney, now 93.

Whitney loves running in the Sprint so much, that his daughter picks him up from Vermont to bring him to Wolfe Park, Moyse said, adding it's two-and-a-half hours each way.

"He wins in his age group, the Over 70 group," Moyse said of Whitney. "We created a 90-120 group for him," he added with a smile. "Last year his trophy was bigger than the overall winner's trophy."

Whitney ran his first race at age 80 and set a national record for his age group in the 20K in New Haven when he was 87.

"He just wrote a book about running and starting later in life," Moyse said. "It's a great inspiration to others."

"A lot of kids got their start as runners in this race and went on to run in college," Moyse said.

Among the talented young runners is Theresa Saia, a Masuk student who made All-State.

I started running when I was 38 with this race," said Moyse, now 58. "I just did my 33rd marathon since."

Volunteers Make it Work

On race day, volunteers set everything up at Wolfe Park. Most arrive at 7:30 a.m., but Moyse said some come as early as six.

"Steve Vavrek is always there at six," Moyse said of the town's first selectman. "He's been there early to help out on race day since the first year. He may have missed one or two years."

The groundwork is laid out by the committee. Aside from Moyse, Ed Butler, Frank Bent and Kevin Early have served since the Sprint began. "They hung in there for 20 years," Moyse said.

Marybeth Zarifian has handled the food for the last few years and Patty Hawley for 15 years before her.

Moyse also credits the Parks & Recreation Commission, Wolfe Park staff and Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Services, which always has an ambulance on standby.

"Our children were 4-years-old when we started this," Moyse said. "Now they're in college. There's a lot of history, a lot of memories with this. I'm feeling good that it's going to happen again and hopefully it's going to continue in the future. I'm happy to pass the torch to anyone who will keep it going."