400 runners jog, chug at Polar Beer Run

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — More than 400 runners braved the cold weather Saturday for the annual Polar Beer Run 5K in Perryville.

Teams ran a route through the streets of Perryville and drank beer to raise money for their respective causes, with several award categories that included best-dressed team and individual, best team spirit and biggest team. Mary Jane Burgers and Brew again organized and sponsored the event, owner Carisa Stark said.

“When we first created it, we wanted to bring a different genre to Mary Jane’s,” Stark said of the fun run. “Since then, it’s quadrupled in size. It’s phenomenal.”

Stark said the 25 teams each had a charitable cause they were running for, with prize money going to winning teams’ charities.

“This is not just a fun day for everyone. It raises awareness for a lot of local charities,” Stark said.

The best team spirit award went to the team running for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Ann Welker, who ran with the team for St. Jude, said being back in Perryville meant a lot to her.

“For me, it was really cool,” she said. “I had my first teaching job up here years ago, and the route, we ran by my first apartment, the school where I taught.”

Welker said this was her first time running in this race.

“It’s a lot of fun people for a great cause,” she said.

Mike Warren, the event’s promoter, said he felt the run was about trying to bring a sense of normalcy back to the community after a tornado ravaged part of the area Feb. 28.

“We already had the event planned and thought we’d feel out how we’d move forward after the storm.,” Warren said.

“I think the biggest thing is, since there’s been such an outpouring of help, organizations were overwhelmed by donations of items,” Warren said. “Resources have been tremendous, so we were thinking to try to continue to have a good-spirited community event.”

Warren previously said he knew of the event and this year saw an opportunity to help Stark promote it.

“I wouldn’t want to do this on my own,” he laughed. “But teaming up with Mary Jane’s, we were able to partner up and really make something wonderful happen.”

Added Warren, “This was Carisa’s brainchild.”

At 91 members, the biggest team, The TBF, ran to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

Blaine Swinford and his wife, Morgan, organized the team with friend Billy Wilson, all of Chaffee, Missouri.

Swinford and Wilson have been friends since childhood, Wilson said, and four years ago, Swinford asked him to run together in a Tough Mudder Mud Run competition. They’ve been running together ever since, Wilson said.

In August, the Swinfords will hold the Dutchman’s Dash, a 5K race in rural Chaffee.

“That run will also benefit the Alzheimer’s Association,” Swinford said, adding 100 percent of those proceeds will go to the charity.

“It’s grown every year,” Swinford added.

Swinford and Wilson also will be running today in the Howard Aslinger Endurance Run in Cape Girardeau.

Wilson said they run six to 10 races per year.

“I’d say it’s very important to us,” he said.

At the end of the day, Wilson said, running in charity runs is a lot of fun.

“Camaraderie and charity, that’s what it’s about,” he said.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

102 N. Jackson St., Perryville, Mo.