New Eastern Panhandle marathon promotes better health

The Freedom’s Run will raise money to put a fitness trail and vegetable garden at every school in Jefferson County and organizers hope it will also encourage people to go outdoors and exercise more. 

“This is a beautiful place for people to come and visit and explore,” Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, race organizer, said. 

“We have beautiful national parks here, beautiful trails, and it’s such a natural place to host an event.”

Marathoners will run through Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Antietam National Battlefield, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail. 

The half marathon, 5K and 10K race routes also utilize national park land and there will be a one mile fun run in Shepherdstown for children. 

Cucuzzella said one major goal is getting children to exercise more.

“West Virginia’s the number two obese state in the nation,” Cucuzzella said. “We have to start with the kids and getting kids out in a playful environment, on a local trail, building programs that will teach them the joy of movement.”

One Jefferson County school already has a fitness trail and garden. 

For about 10 years now Shepherdstown Elementary students have enjoyed the quarter mile, gravel-covered trail just outside the building that loops around the playground.

“It’s a really a nice walk,” Suzanne Offutt, principal, said.   

Valerie Dudash, Physical Education teacher, said students in each grade use it once or twice a week.

“The students have punch cards,” Dudash said. “Every lap that they do they get a punch in their card.”

“Once they fill a card with five miles they get a token for a necklace that they wear around their neck very proudly.”

“So we have pumpkin activities coming up shortly with some of the pumpkins that were grown in the garden,” Offutt said. 

Other lessons show students that plants can be used for dye, paper making and for medicinal purposes.