SCRANTON, Pa. — An annual race is back in Scranton after getting canceled last year because of the pandemic.
Runners are getting ready to "Shiver by the River."
Newswatch 16's Elizabeth Worthington was at the Scranton Running Company Wednesday morning to talk about the charity event.
The Scranton Running Company hosts the event.
"We get to showcase the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. we get to get a lot of people out who may not have been running through the winter months," said Jason Geadrities, Scranton Running Company.
"January, February, is always just a pretty slow time. So that was when we started this, we thought maybe just get people moving through January and February," said Matt Byrne, the owner of the Scranton Running Company.
When Byrne and his team came up with the idea for Shiver by the River about a decade ago, they didn't anticipate a big turnout.
"We said maybe three bucks, five bucks, show up and maybe we'll get 30 or 40 people just to cover the coffee and doughnuts, you know, and before you knew it, it blew up to hundreds of people. And they wanted awards and t-shirts and all that. Now we have a big thing on our hands," Byrne said.
And having more people means more money raised for local charities. Proceeds benefit St. Francis of Assisi soup kitchen, the Lackawanna River Conservation Association, and the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority.
After a year off because of COVID in 2021 and a few weeks delay due to icy conditions on the trail this year, runners are raring and ready to go.
"it was tough," Geadrities said. "We have a lot of participants who are very itching to get out there again. But there won't be too much shivering by the river this year."
"It's going to be a shorts and t-shirt kind of race day, which is a little bit different than the race we had to cancel a couple weeks ago with the ice and the snow and everything," said Bobbi Jo Guman Scranton Running Company.
"Part of us likes to see some snow and slip a little bit but we'll take this too. It'll be fun either way," Byrne added.
Shiver by the River was one of the first races Debbie Clark participated in when she took up running.
"I did it mostly for health reasons; I swore I would never run unless I was being chased."
Now she has a half marathon under her belt, but Shiver by the River is open to runners of all skill levels.
The 5K Run, 10K Run, and 2-mile walk will all kick off on the Heritage Trail on Saturday, February 12, at 10 a.m.
Runners and walkers can pick up their packets Friday, February 11, at the Scranton Running Company from noon to 7 p.m. or before the races from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Race shirts will be available for the first 300 participants.
Event details:
- What: Shiver by the River
- Where: 3 W Olive St, Scranton, PA 18508
- When: Race starts at 10 a.m.; Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
- Cost: $15.00 Race Fee + $2.40 SignUp Fee