PUHI — Patches knew what was ahead and took advantage of the ride being offered by Ho‘omakai Schimmelfenning yesterday. Patches, a 2-year-old dog, was taking the place of Iniki Jogger, a perennial runner at the annual Youth Fun Run hosted
PUHI — Patches knew what was ahead and took advantage of the ride being offered by Ho‘omakai Schimmelfenning yesterday.
Patches, a 2-year-old dog, was taking the place of Iniki Jogger, a perennial runner at the annual Youth Fun Run hosted by the YMCA and the East Kaua‘i Y’s Men’s Club on the grounds of the Kilohana Estate.
“This is her first race,” said Patches’ owner, Donna Schulze, one of the charter volunteers for the 25th-anniversary race.
Schulze also inaugurated her grandson Ho‘omakai, 3, at the event as well. He joined more than 100 young runners crowded the field for the one- and two-mile races.
Stephanie Rogers, who recently joined the YMCA as its athletic director, also had her daughter, Meaghan, entered into the run.
At 9 months old, Rogers said Meaghan was one of the younger runners and got the help of sister Hunter to help push the stroller through the course between the Kilohana grounds and the campus of the neighboring Kaua‘i Community College.
Schulze was appointed the official starter of the race, which began following the opening warm-ups led by Wendy Tannery and several of the runners who have taken part in the run over the years.
She said that in memory of Iniki Jogger who loved to run, several people stepped forward to contribute toward prizes for the young runners.
Previously, two bicycles, one for a boy and one for a girl, were given away at the end of the event. However, Schulze said due to the benevolence of people who remember Jogger, the number of bicycles given away totaled 10 this year.
Additionally, because it was the 25th anniversary of the annual run, 20 rides aboard the Kilohana Plantation Railway locomotive was added to the pot.
