Seven months ago, Jennifer Huwe gave birth to daughter Ellis, her and husband Kevin’s first child.
Early Monday morning, the couple celebrated their first Memorial Day as parents by reaching Riverview Park shortly after dawn and running in the 54th annual Chattanooga Chase.
“It’s not easy,” Jennifer said of motherhood. “There’s a lot less sleep. But we both love this race. There’s the community aspect. The mingling. The food. It’s just a great event.”
The community aspect, the mingling, the food were all silenced a year ago by the coronavirus pandemic, along with pretty much everything else that required more than a single family to be present.
So the longest running running event in Scenic City history – the Chase – went somewhat dark, though a loyal, hardcore group of 50 to 60 people reportedly gathered last Memorial Day at the park – socially distancing, of course – and silently ran the 53rd Chattanooga Chase without fanfare.