Green Day Gallop: Annual event will feature the first marathon in Palmer

PALMER — The Green Day Gallop, the annual St. Patrick’s Day themed running event is set for this Sunday. There are multiple race options with varying difficulties and this year, something new, a full marathon, the first ever in Palmer.

“It’s been on the agenda for a few years so it’s fun to actually bring it to fruition,” Ann Thomas, owner of Body in Balance Physical Therapy, Active Body Downtown Gym, and Active Soles said.

Hosted by Active Soles and the Mat-Su Miners, the Green Day Gallop encourages runners of all ages and athletic levels to go green by spending the day exercising and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day together as a community, according to Thomas.

“I think getting out and about with friends and family builds a closer community and also improves people’s general health and livelihood,” Thomas said.

Denise Christopher, marketing and community relations and secretary board member for the Mat-Su Miners baseball team, said this annual event is something she’s wanted to happen for years.

“It’s just a really good thing. People need to get out, get healthy, get moving,” Christopher said. “Every year it seems to gain a little more momentum. Every year it just keeps getting better.”

Christopher said the Green Day Gallop is the brainchild of Thomas; Kate Arnold, then marketing director of Active Soles; and herself. She said that the event has evolved over the years and they try to change it up every year to bring in more people who may not have attended otherwise. She was happy this year will feature a full marathon.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” Christopher said.

This event serves as a kick off to spring, striving to get many people moving in the increasingly warm weather, according to Christopher.

“It’s fun. It’s a good way to kick off spring. It’s a good way to get people out milling around Palmer. Everybody’s like ‘hey how ya doing?’” Christopher said.

Christopher said the Orthopedic Physicians Associates will be there to provide medical staff with a first aid station in case anyone is injured. She said they’ve also been helping the Miners athletes train over the years. She said that when they found out about the Green Day Gallop, they wanted to, “jump on in.”

“For some reason, when you get an idea rolling people are like, ‘oh I can do that.’ In the Valley, it just seems to happen. People always want to just chip in and lend a hand so we’re pretty blessed out here,” Christopher said.

Each runner will be equipped with timing equipment. Christopher said racer’s bibs will have chips inside that detect when they cross the finish line. She said that runners are usually, “pretty goal oriented.”

“When you run a marathon, timing is important especially if you’re competitive,” Christopher said. “Time means everything to qualify for other things.”

Christopher said that they’ve always wanted this event to get to the point to where it can be used as a qualifier for bigger races. She said that it isn’t a qualifier yet but adding the marathon option is the first step to seeing that happen.

“We really wanted something out here in the Valley that people can use as a qualifier or training or whatever they need it to be, to have it out here for them to run it,” Christopher said. “We’re not a qualifier yet but that would be our goal for it.”

Christopher said a number of people, including Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries and city council members dressed up in green St. Patrick’s Day themed outfits last year.

“We had green wigs, skirts and you name it. I had a guy in a St. Patrick’s Day suit, like he was head to toe shamrocks everything and he ran in it,” Christopher said.

Thomas marveled at the amount of community participation each year, with several local businesses helping out in one form or another.

“I think it’s a great collaboration. So many businesses pitch in to make this race happen,” Thomas said.

Christopher said the event grows with more sponsors and participants every year. She said that Humdingers Gourmet Pizza Co. will be giving out bananas and water to runners.

“Bananas and water are an athlete’s best friend,” Christopher said.

At the depot, there will also be several types of food trays available with meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables to replenish those burned calories. There will also be green beer available for purchase from the Bleeding Heart Brewery.

“We want people to come to downtown Palmer, enjoying the day, cheering on the runners,” Christopher said.

This event is designed to be an all-inclusive event, according to Christopher. She said that’s why they have multiple races with varying difficulties. She said that adding the marathon should attract more serious runners and keeping the more low key races like the 5k and free kids race encourages families and more casual runners who just want to have fun.

“We try to spread it out to have something everybody can do,” Christopher said.

Green Day Gallop racers are to meet at the Palmer Train Depot, with bib pick up and registration starting at 9 a.m. Registration is $40 and the Kids 1 Miler is free. Anyone with questions about this race can contact the race director at: activesolesevents@gmail.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com.