The annual Bellwood Daze River Run is a tradition for many.
The 17th event was held on August 6 at Bellwood and featured its typical children’s races and adult races of 2 miles and 6 miles. The children’s race was held first and lasted six blocks, with the adult races starting 15 minutes later. Afterwards, people had the opportunity to enjoy refreshments and kolaches, and there were bounce houses for the children.
Kevin Meysenburg, race director for the river race, said the event was started in 2005 during Bellwood’s 125th anniversary. An average of 130 people usually take part in the race.
Funds raised from the event benefit the community, he said, such as the bleachers that were redone at the rink.
“Sometimes the funds are used for different projects. The last two years, the funds go to Bellwood Daze for the Bellwood community,” Meysenburg said.
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The morning of August 6 was already hot and crazy. The high had been 95 degrees that day, but Meysenburg noted that the weather was better than the past two years.
“Five of the last six years, I think we’ve had rain before, during or after,” he added. “It’s going to be a little warm and crazy this year. But otherwise it’s been great weather. We’re hoping to have a good turnout and have a lot of fun.”
Shelby native Mitchell Schleis returned to the Bellwood Daze River Run this year, his fourth or fifth time running the event.
“I ran track in high school and then I ran track and cross country in college. It’s been six years since I graduated. So I’ve been running off and on ever since,” Schleis said.
Schleis goes to seminary school in Maryland and returned to the northeast area of Nebraska.
“I came home for the weekend, it was close and I have good memories running here,” Schleis said.
Others have been on the run for the same amount of time, including a family from the Lincoln and Omaha area.
Christina Usher of Lincoln came with about seven family members. It’s an annual tradition, he added. The family stays for the race awards and then heads to Columbus for breakfast at the Picket Fence Café.
“We come back every year because we really like the kolaches. We love that it’s two kilometers, so we don’t have to be in great shape. We love that I almost always win an award because there’s hardly anyone in my age group,” Usher joked.
Usher’s niece Emma Heller added that the river race is a fun race.
“There’s still some competition, but it’s also great to come and compete,” Heller said, noting that the family has been involved in sports at one point or another. “We’re not from here, we’re from Lincoln, so it’s fun to come to this town and see if you like the same people every year.”
“We just do it because it’s a fun family activity and it helps us get in shape; it creates competition between us,” he said.
Hannah Schrodt is the news editor for The Banner-Press. Contact her by email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net.
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