Flotilla Road Race Scheduled For July 4
SYRACUSE – The Flotilla celebrations in the Wawasee area over the Fourth of July holiday are never complete without the annual running of the Flotilla Road Race.
The race will be held Friday, July 4, beginning at the Syracuse Community Center and stretching through the streets of Syracuse. The event is comprised of several formats to suit participants – a 3.3-mile run, an 8-mile run and a 3.3-mile fun walk. The course leads away from Lakeside Park and the SCC to the north and takes the 3.3-milers up and around Maxwelton Golf Club. Merging along South County Line Road and then later Northshore Drive, runners and walkers get a view of the golf course’s front and back nines as well as glimpses of Syracuse Lake on the back stretch of the race grid.
The 8-milers will continue on through the 3.3-mile finish and into Syracuse, projecting south into Oakwood Park and back north, eventually rejoining Northshore Drive to hit the finish line back at Lakeside Park.
The race winners are split into age divisions, beginning with kids and going through senior divisions. Masters winners are also recognized, and all walkers receive a ribbon.
The race is put on annually by Brian Shepherd and his family, along with several local and regional sponsors.
The 2013 race winners were Elias Rojas, Ligonier, with a time of 16:32, and Madison Distelrath, Fort Wayne, with a time of 20:48 in the 3.3-mile race. The 8-mile winners were Ryan Smith, Albion, with a time of 42:10, and Crystina Ridenour, Fort Wayne, with at time of 49:26. The 3.3-mile masters winners were Brian Shepherd and Reisa Rinker and the 8-mile masters were Dave Bussard and Jenny Isenbarger.
Over 570 people took part in the 2013 Flotilla Road Race.
Forms for the race can be picked up at Logan-Rogers Realty, 408 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, or downloaded from the runindiana.com Web site.