Gate River Run 2008
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-3861-dsc_0011.JPG)
The 31st Annual Gate River Run was held today here in Jacksonville. The Gate River Run is the USA 15k Championship and is now the largest 15k (9.3 miles) race in terms of participants. This year's participants numbered over 13,000. In addition, there were another 2,000 runners who ran the Times-Union 5k (3.1 mile) Race for Charity. There was also a 1-mile fun run for children.
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http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/732
As sponsor of the River Run, Gate would like to say: "Buy more of our gas!" ;)
seriously though, good event today. the wind coming down the Hart bridge was monstrous.
What police patterns were set up to encourage downtown patronage during or after the event by race fans and participants? Was it the usual funnel em in, funnel em out?
Did any downtown businesses respond to participants and fans being in the area by being open on a Saturday?
Is it up to the police to encourage patronage or would that fall under DVI or a merchant association?
I wouldn't say that things were set up to help downtown merchants, but there really wasn't much there to hurt them either. The roads that were close in the core of downtown were opened I'm sure by 10:00 am, and the roads were not blocked to get people out of downtown.
The streets were open as soon as the runners went by. It was very different than a typical event at the stadium.
I would say that downtown was self sufficient on Saturday - don't forget that the Gun's n Hoses boxing event was held in the evening to a nearly sold out crowd @ the arena....................I know that Chew was FULL & the Brick in Avondale was busier than usual.
I, alas, did not run or attend this year. Next year, next year. I did, however run the Sidney Lanier Bridge Run in Brunswick earlier this month. I think that's about all I'm doing until the Hammerhead Olympic Triathlon in August ;D
Any story or photos for this year's River Run.