By John Gallagher
By 7:30 a.m., the DJ had the music bumping and 100 people were at the Trussville Mall ready for the annual Maple Leaf Run fundraising event. Over 300 people started the Maple Leaf Run despite the overcast sky, bitter winds, and cold temperature. The day before had looked very promising for the race with blue skies and temperatures reaching the low eighties.
“We had a lot of people come out this morning,” Megan Peterson, the Trussville Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator, said. “Many signed up this morning. We are really happy with the turnout.”
A women’s small group from Church of the Highlands called “Eat, Pray, Love ,Bible Study”, showed up in their vibrant socks for the race. The group included: Renee Bird, Sue Bolden, Kathy Devaughn. Lisa Johnson, April Miller, Mindy Ryan, Fay Shannon, Andrea Slaughter, and Angie Stegall
“We’re making the front page,” one of the ladies said.
Mark Sims from Clay said the Maple Leaf Run was the start of his running season and his favorite race
. A family of three bundled up their two-year old in its stroller and ran the race as a family.
“I’ve been training for a few months and my dad talked me into running this,” Ben Nichols from Trussville said.
The juggling team from Paine Intermediate School came out to support the runners. The team performs at halftime during the High School football games and at other events. The team had seventeen members. They practice during P.E. and most have been juggling since the second grade. They stood by the starting line and performed as the race got under way.
Justin Arsement, a Montevallo student from Louisiana, won the Maple Leaf Run in 17:42, nearly two minutes ahead of second place.
“The cold weather really helped,” Arsement said. “I really liked the course.”
Emma Vrocher from Trussville was the first woman to course the line in 22:39. Vrocher is 12 years old. This was her first 5k race. Vrocher runs for the cross country team at Hewitt-Trussville.
After the 5k race, there was a kid’s fun run around the mall. The race distance was about one mile. The race for first place among the boys and girls ended with sprint finishes.
The proceeds from the Maple Leaf Run go to the Trussville Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund and Turn Trussville Pink.