NOVAK: Declining numbers should be a concern

Published 8:45 am Tuesday, July 31, 2018

For more than two decades, I have been covering Steve’s Run in its various incarnations.

And I have to tell you, I am concerned about the future of what was the Original Road and Trail Race.

In its heyday, Steve’s Run would draw nearly 1,000 runners to Dowagiac in July.

They came to help raise money for a great cause and to celebrate running. Some came for the “wheat juice” they used to serve following the Road and Trail races in the 1980s to those who were above the age of 21.

Ron Gunn’s brainchild brought generations of runners to Dowagiac, many of which hit the downtown area, where the race used to start and finish, to shop the sales during the annual festival.

Even more sampled the local food fare before piling back into their cars and heading to parts throughout Michigan, Indiana and the Midwest. Some even got onto planes following the race and headed back to the state they currently resided in.

But when Southwestern Michigan College decided that the race was no longer going to coincide with Summer in the City, nor would it start and finish in downtown Dowagiac, the event lost its glimmer.

When Gunn, who returned last Saturday to serve as the emcee, no longer was officially affiliated with the race, the numbers dropped drastically.

Over the past four years, 537 finishers are the highest total for Steve’s Run. That is a far cry from its usual numbers.

In 2015, the race had 439 finishers. It was the 2016 version of the race that drew more than 500 runners.

The past two years has seen a drastic decline.

The 2017 race listed only 405 finishers, while last Saturday’s race declined to 352.

I do not have any real answers as to why people are no longer coming to Dowagiac for Steve’s Run, but I would offer up this piece of advice to those in charge.

I would encourage others to take a long, hard look at whether or not they need to return the race to its original weekend to coincide with Summer in the City, and perhaps start the race downtown and then finish at the college.

Steve’s Run has become a part of my life. I look forward to seeing old friends and former area runners each and every July.

I would hate to see that come to an end, but I am afraid that is the route we are headed.

Steve’s Run is an important part of the history of Dowagiac just as much as the Round Oak Stove Company or Southwestern Michigan College itself.

I understand the desire to want to show off the college to prospective students, but I am not sure how well that is working out as the numbers continue to fall.

It is time for everyone to put their heads together and come up with a plan that will turn around the declining numbers and get Steve’s Run back on top as one of the area’s top running destinations.

In the end, everyone will benefit from increased participation from SMC, to Dowagiac, to the charities that benefit from the race.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com