Runners paint Palmer green in annual Gallop

PALMER — Scores of runners painted downtown Palmer green during the annual Green Day Gallop hosted by Active Soles and the Mat-Su Miners on Sunday. Runners of all ages and ability celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a series of races, including the Green Day Gallop’s premiere of the full marathon.

Talia McCall and her sister Gabi Sonnenberg ran together like they usually do. McCall said that running in the Green Day Gallop was one of their ways of training for the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon in Washington in June. Sonnenberg said that she’s competed in the Washington marathon before it before and it will be McCall’s first time.

“It’ll be fun,” Sonnenberg said.

Sonnenberg said that two of their brothers also participated Sunday. She said that her sister was never too far away.

“I had her behind me the whole time and I was like, ‘I can’t let her beat me,’ Sonnenberg exclaimed, reliving the race all over again.

McCall laughed, looking at her sister saying, “it’s healthy competition.” The two have been running marathons for about seven years. She said that they usually do some sort of marathon every year. She said family members have ran marathons and inspired them to do the same.

“It’s a family affair,” McCall said.

McCall said they’ve kept running competitively for the challenge and to keep pushing themselves. She noted that it’s also fun once it becomes a habit. She said that they both run about six times a week.

“It’s hard to get into running and kind of start to enjoy it but once you do it’s just really fun,” McCall said.

McCall said that active runners in the community tend to run in to each other at events like this. She said that they always participate in the Anchorage Run Fest every year and see some of those faces at other events.

When it comes to training for long distance running, McCall said that there’s, “a lot that goes into it.” She said it covers all kinds of regiments like daily exercise, dieting, and proper hydration.

“We eat a lot, drink a lot, stretch a lot,” McCall said with a laugh.

Bridget Calvery was racing with a very special person in mind that day. She said that her run was her way of declaring, “I love you Erin,” in honor of her late sister Erin Mullally. She said that this run was for her and she thought of her the whole time.

“Today I had extra special energy,” Calvery said.

Calvery said that she started running in races like these about two years ago. She said that she made it her objective to run each race without stopping and through this approach has improved each year.

“I’m getting into a running rhythm using races as my goals,” Calvery said.

Sunday marked the fourth year for the Green Day Gallop races and the debut of the full marathon. The races are hosted collaboratively by Active Soles and the Mat-Su Miners. Mat-Su Miners director of marketing and community relations Denise Christopher said organizers wanted to create a unique event for spring in the Valley.

“Let’s get everybody out running,” Christopher said.

Christopher said organizers wanted to schedule something toward the beginning of spring. The color green is a natural tie to the Miners, the Valley’s Alaska Baseball League squad that dons the green and gold. After that, everything fell into place with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

Christopher said tremendous support from the community and Valley businesses has helped organizers allow the event to grow. Christopher noted the longtime support of Pioneer Peak Orthopedics and Now Health in particular. Now Health purchased the inflatable arch race organizers stage at the start and stop.

“That was a big deal,” Christopher said.

A key to the early success, Christopher said, was the introduction of the kids’ race, a 1-mile run.

“We wanted to get the kids out there,” Christopher said.

This year, the series of races included the kids’ race, a 5-kilometer, half marathon and the marathon. The idea of hosting a full marathon has been part of the conversation, Christopher said, and this year organizers decided to go for it.

“We’re pretty excited about the number of (runners),” Christopher said of the marathon. “We had more than we expected.”

Christopher estimated about 20 in the marathon and nearly 200 overall.

“We had great feedback,” Christopher said.

Money raised Sunday will be used to help fund many of the community running events Active Soles hosts throughout the year.

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