Gunn Park hosts first annual Frozen Run

With temperatures well above the freezing mark and with the rain holding off, Fort Scott’s first Frozen Five and Dime Run at Gunn Park drew about 70 runners from the community as well as out of town and state Saturday morning.

12-14 Frozen Run 3

Tom Gorman, a trail runner himself for some time, organized the event that he says he and other organizers hope will become an annual event, though he said he prefers the colder temperatures they had prepared for instead of the warmer and slightly damp weather they had Saturday.

“It should be a perfect day for running,” Gorman addressed the runners of all ages prior to the run, which included five-kilometer, five-mile and 10-mile routes.

Most of the runners, some coming from Kansas City, Lawrence, Overland Park and even Springfield, admitted they had never used the Gunn Park trails. Gorman said drawing such people for the event had been a goal of theirs.

“A lot of people who have never seen our trails who will want to come back,” Gorman described the group of participants. “And that’s what we want.”

Runners who spent the night at a local hotel were given free entry for the run, while all participants received $15 in chamber bucks to go with the $25 entry fee.

Gorman said the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Scott were great supporters for the event, as well as other organizations such as Hartman Spine and Joint and Mercy Hospital. Volunteers also participated from local church youth groups and other high school students.

Those with the best times were given prizes after the run. Smores and hot chocolate as well as colder drinks were also provided to the runners after they completed the trails.

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