Mark your calendar
2016 Chattanooga Track Club races to anticipate:› March 4-6, Chattanooga Marathon*› April 16, Chickamauga Chase› May 30, Chattanooga Chase› June 26, Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon› Nov. 12, Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon* CTC a founding partner
The Chattanooga Track Club may not have built Chattanooga’s renaissance, but the club has been involved every step of the way.
That was its legacy, as articulated by former president George Skonberg during the CTC’s annual report meeting Thursday morning at the Outdoor Chattanooga building in Coolidge Park.
The morning served as a reflection on a tragic and monumental year for the running community and also as a look ahead to a new year that will feature the inaugural Chattanooga Marathon scheduled for March 6.
Through the 16 races it hosted and the additional 30-plus that it supported, the nonprofit running group indicated in its report that it contributed $84,000 in 2015 to the bevy of community groups and charities that it supports.
It is also a founding partner in the Chattanooga Marathon that city officials announced in June with the hope of attracting 5,000 participants.
Adding to the hoopla, Ironman officials designated Chattanooga as the host city for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in September. The announcements of both events were hailed by track club leaders as great additions to the city’s bustling outdoors scene.
“We didn’t build Ironman, but the Chattanooga Track Club was there,” Skonberg said, citing the other local triathlons the club has been involved with that preceded Ironman’s relationship with the city.
But 2015 also featured tragedy in the running community.
Former Baylor running coach Van Townsend died in January at age 56 after a battle with cancer. In September, Baylor alumnus and former professional runner Cameron Bean died from injuries he suffered after a motorist struck him while he ran along Moccasin Bend Road.
“The outcry and the love for one another was unbelievable,” said Alan Outlaw, co-owner of Fast Break Athletics, where Bean worked.
“Our strength comes from our community,” added Chattanooga Track Club president Sujeel Taj.
Chad Varga, owner of Front Runner Athletics, likened the Chattanooga Track Club to the dynasty that the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA have developed.
“The CTC races are consistently quality events,” he said. “The races that are going to stick around and define the quality of running in this area are the track club races. They always have, and I’m certain that will continue to be the case.”
Skonberg recalled the days when the Walnut Street Bridge was barricaded and rife with barbed wire. But there was a group of track club runners pushing to use it, he said. And pushing the city to become the recreation-friendly place it is today.
“Young folks, I hope the track club is doing exactly what it’s done for the last 30 years since I’ve been here and involved,” Skonberg said. “And that’s talking to each other, solving each other’s problems and thinking about ways to make this a better community.”
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.