Run the Res returns

After the coronavirus pandemic prompted the postponement of the 11th annual Run the Res 5K and 10K runs/walks in April 2020, Fostoria's Susie Shiff and her family eventually came to know that the event wasn't in good shape for spring of this year. But the race is back on the calendar for Sept. 19 to raise funds for the Jeff Shiff Run the Res Cancer Patient Support Fund at ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital, and to honor Shiff, an avid runner who died of colon cancer in 2008. The patient support fund was launched last year. In its 10 years the events has raised more than $50,000 for the hospital. Shiff was well known for his community involvement, which included serving on the boards of Fostoria City Schools, Geary Family YMCA and Fostoria Athletic Boosters. The event to honor him will now be presented back to the community after a hiatus of more than a year. "We just want to get it back on track and see how it is in the fall as opposed to the spring," Shiff's widow, Susie, said Thursday, which was the Shiffs' 43rd wedding anniversary. "The main reason we called it off (this spring) was there were so many (COVID-19-related) stipulations for 2021 in. They've lifted all of those, so we decided to get back on the bandwagon before something else happens. We're pretty excited about starting it back up." The only hitch is the event conflicts with week 2 of the NFL season, which the Cleveland Browns and their fans will enter with the rarity of extremely high hopes. On Sept. 19, the Browns will open their home schedule against the Houston Texans. "We're going to have a television," Shiff said. "So, whoever comes to run or watch will be able to watch. My boys (Alex and Sam) say they're going to have a TV outside for the people who are in love with the Browns. I feel bad that that's the day, but I didn't have a lot of choices to pick to get the Toledo Roadrunners to do the chip timing. It is what it is. But we are very excited to get back on board with it."So, it will be first and goal in Fostoria, with the aim being a good time for a good cause. "We have a lot of very good, faithful returning workers and we're pretty excited that most of them said they're coming back," Shiff said. "I hope the town's excited about it because we did have a good turnout every year we've had it." Runners and walkers may register in advance at website www.runtheres.org, with the entry fees being $25 for the 5K and 10K and $10 for the Kids Fun Run for ages 3-9. The deadline for advance registration is Sept. 5, with early registrants receiving a T-shirt.Registration on the day of the event will begin at noon in the brick shelter house at City Park, near the corner of Vine and Van Buren streets. The Kids Fun run will begin at 1 p.m., with the 5K and 10K participants leaving the starting line at 2 p.m. The 5K and 10K participants will travel around Lake Mottram and Lake Lamberjack, which are the reservoirs near Fremont and Tiffin streets. The trail also goes down Tiffin Street to CR 262 and back to the finish. For information or to register, visit website www.runtheres.org or call Shiff at 419-435-1772.