I recently asked race director Eve Graves some questions about the Rivet Run she puts on and thought some of you would enjoy signing up for yet another adventure 🙂
You are the race director for the Rivet Run/Walk events across the bridge, tell us a bit about the race and what makes them so great.
The past ten years, the Rivet Run/Walk has been going on and I have put it on as a volunteer, timing, advertising, taking photos, you name it! So far close to $40,000 has been raised that goes directly to the trails at Pattison State Park.
This is a great low key smaller event for all abilities. Finishers range from 17 minutes all the way up to an hour and 17 minutes. In the summer the course goes along the gorgeous flowing river, up to Little Manitou Falls and back on the other side of the river.
In the fall the event starts along the river, then heads up into the Nordic ski trails and back down again.
Both courses are a piece of cake compared to most of the more technical trails in town. Wide gravel trail mixed in with some steps, a couple of hills, and grass in the fall.
Finishers get a neat tech tank or t-shirt in the summer and long-sleeved wicking in the fall. Everyone also gets a door prize and refreshments.
There’s a neat award for this event can you tell me how that came to be?
One of the men who used to be in the group I coach lived out near Pattison and the trails were being neglected so he wanted to put a race on to help fund the sprucing up of them. He’s a great runner, but putting on an event was new to him so I helped him out then took it over the following year when life got in the way.
Awards are actual rivets from a ship because his career is working on ships. Overall male, female, and nonbinary participants receive a large gold rivet. Age group winners three deep get bronze, silver, or gold rivets.
Do you also get to run any of the races along with directing, or just putting in work on those days?
Since its inception, I have always put the event on, directing the timing, taking photos, and making sure all goes as planned. I’m kinda a micromanager on the day of the event and a perfectionist.
Is there a charitable aspect that is a part of the Rivet Run?
Yes! All the proceeds go directly to the trails at Pattison State Park. They were able to purchase a hydraulic trailer to haul rocks out onto the trail, numerous high-quality boards for the new bridges on the race course, and quite a bit more so far.
Is there anything else people should know?
This is a very low key, friendly event that is also competitive or just a very pleasant scenic walk. We have a sweep, however, who carries a plastic pitchfork in case someone stops too long to take pictures, to-date poking has been avoided!
The pitchfork originated out of a gal who was the group I lead. She would carry a stick on our group outings in case anyone was lollygagging, she never did anything with it, but it was always there. She passed away and this tradition continues in her memory.
Check the event website for cut off dates, shirts go away, prices go up, and we have no day of registration anymore. There are also a limited number of spots in the summer event.