Old Mission Peninsula provides scenic views of both East and West Bay of Lake Michigan. The Peninsula has paved roads that are an ideal spot for runners and athletes. The TC Track Club saw the potential for this spot, and in 1983, the Bayshore Marathon was created, giving runners the unique opportunity to experience the area through a race that has built a community throughout the years.
“[The] Bayshore [is] open to anybody who wants to do it. So I think It’s a good opportunity to have really good competition and a long distance race like that without having to be insanely fast and have to qualify for The Boston or something,” sophomore Ava Zeratsky said.
Zeratsky ran the half marathon over Memorial Day weekend, the weekend that the race always takes place on. Besides the half marathon, The Bayshore includes a full marathon, 10k and a kid’s run.
“I think our volunteers especially build a community because people sign up in groups mostly like NHS [and] through like sport teams, but then they’re all working together at an aid station and stuff,” Zeratsky said.
In order to keep all of these events running smoothly, the day requires many volunteers, that range from high school age to retired. The volunteers work at the start of the race, the turnaround point for the marathon, the start at the half marathon, and multiple locations along the way.
“So basically, we just set up tables to put waters and gatorades on for the runners. And then we would hand them out as they ran by, and then we also picked up their garbage and held garbage bags so they could throw their cups in it,” sophomore Brooklyn Sherman said.
Students can sign up to volunteer with their friends, or groups of students from organizations can sign up to fulfill their hours. This year, groups like NHS and the swim team signed up to participate in the volunteering. Sophomore Coral Cravey volunteered with the swim team, while Sherman volunteered with her friends.
“I think it’s just like a good way to help everybody. I guess a bunch of people that participated in it is just like good for the runners particularly I think,” Sherman said.
With the help of both the volunteers and the beautiful scenery the area provides, The Bayshore attracts many runners both from in town and out of town. It also is a race that allows runners to qualify for The Boston Marathon.
“I think that it’s a good opportunity for a lot of people to come up and run and just get somewhere that people can like practice for. And it also brings the community together by volunteers and all just between, like, good relations between the runners and the volunteers,” Cravey said.
Over the years, this has been a well anticipated event for the runners and volunteers alike. Around 7,400 athletes participate every year and the volunteers make the experience possible for every one of them.
“It’s just a good race and a good community,” Cravey said.
