The Republican National Convention has come and gone but one final event underscored the mood shared in much of Cleveland over the past week.
Runners from across the region, and as far away as California, participated in the inaugural Garfield Gallop 5K on Sunday at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site located in the nearby suburb of Mentor.
What made this race different was that each participant was given a costume beard in honor of the nation’s 20th president.
James A. Garfield was a dark horse Republican candidate who won the election of 1880. He was the first to conduct a front porch campaign from his home in Mentor. His most defining feature was his prodigious facial hair.
Re-enactors portraying the President, and his wife Lucretia, were on hand to chat with guests and provide some fun facts on their lives. Runners, and those who cheered them on, were also treated to a special open house inside the Garfield residence itself.
In keeping with the historical theme, the top three finishers in the men’s and women’s categories received top hats instead of medals. All participants received wooden finisher pendants.
The race capped off a banner week for attendance at the James A Garfield National Historic Site which received visits from a number of RNC delegates as well as members of the media.
The overall race winner was Colin Fishwick of Willoughby, OH with a time of 16:59. The top female finisher was Ashlyn Woods of Mentor, OH with a time of 20:38.
The City of Mentor plans to host the event again next year. For additional information, visit www.garfieldgallop.com