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Buckshot Run

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American road race
Buckshot Run
Datelate August or early September
LocationEau Claire, Wisconsin
Distance5 miles (8.0 km) and 2 miles (3.2 km)
Established1983
Participantsover 300

The Buckshot Run, previously the Leader-Telegram Buckshot Run, is an annual 5 miles (8.0 km) and 2 miles (3.2 km) race held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, held on Labor Day weekend. It was established in 1983 and attracts runners of all varieties. It is named after Leader-Telegram sports-writer Ron Buckli. It was run to raise money for the Indianhead Special Olympics, however the 2024 running was the last affiliated with the Special Olympics. As of 2022, the race raised an estimated $1.5 million.

The race starts and finishes at Carson Park and follows the Chippewa River State Trail in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Bob Lesniewski had the idea of a run to support the Special Olympics, and the first running on September 3, 1983 drew 412 participants. The first running had a $5 entry fee and raised $1100 for the Special Olympics. The race shirts for the first year were green and said "Get your Tail into the Mousetrap" because Greg "Mouse" Bement was the race's first sponsor and held a post race party at his bar. Lesniewski invited Dan Conway to run it as a show-case runner. The following year, Dick Beardsley ran and won the Buckshot Run in the same year as his fabled Boston Marathon duel with Alberto Salazar.

Mike Salm previously served as race director of the Buckshot Run.

The 2015 race was ran in honor of Brian Amundson who was a regular at the race. Amondson, a former city engineer from 1986 to 1996, had permanent mile markers installed in the pavement along the five-mile race course in 2002.

As of 2019, Mai Xiong and Michaela Harrison were responsible for putting on the Buckshot Run.

Beginning in 2019, the five mile race was named the Dan Conway 5 Mile in honor of Dan Conway who won the first Buckshot Run in 1983. Conway lived in Superior, Wisconsin, and was a coach in Chetek, Wisconsin. In 2014, Conway ran the race in a tuxedo in what he said was going to be his last Buckshot Run after having participated 30 times over the race's 31 years.

The 2022 race was run in honor of Maynard Faanes. Greg Faanes had run in all 40 Buckshot Runs as of 2022 along with Dave Oestreich, Terry Hayden, Jerry Poling, Pat Callahan and Gary Ellis.

Bob Lesniewski, founder of the Buckshot Run, called it a predecessor of the Eau Claire Marathon by popularizing distance running in the region.

References

  1. Buckli, Ron (2 September 2024). "Strong thread runs through runners' tale". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  2. McGraw, Dennis (7 October 2009). "Strong thread runs through runners' tale". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  3. Wachter, Blythe (1 September 2012). "Leader-Telegram Buckshot Run hits 30-year mark". Leader-Telegram.
  4. Franklin, John (2 September 2023). "Hundreds race for Special Olympics at 42nd Buckshot Run". KQOW News (Eau Claire, Wisconsin). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  5. Scherer, McKenna (13 August 2024). "Upcoming Buckshot Run Will Be Last to Benefit Special Olympics". Volume 1. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  6. Buckli, Ron (1 September 2022). "Buckshot Run returns for 40th edition". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  7. Knight, Joe (26 January 2011). "Public input on Carson Park ball field, road proposed". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  8. Buckli, Ron (26 August 2012). "Buckshot Run: 5-miler back to original course". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  9. Buckli, Ron (2 September 1983). "Stories shape Buckshot Run's history". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  10. Buckli, Ron (4 September 2015). "First Buckshot Run was an all-star event". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  11. Buckli, Ron (19 April 2018). "Running took Dan Conway around world, as he recounts in memoir". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  12. Buckli, Ron (26 August 2012). "Buckshot Run: 5-miler back to original course". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  13. Buckli, Ron (27 March 2011). "Salm to enter Indianhead Track Club Hall of Fame". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  14. Buckli, Ron (4 September 2015). "First Buckshot Run was an all-star event". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  15. Buckli, Ron (26 August 2019). "Indianhead Special Olympics, Buckshot Run under new leadership". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  16. "Notable deaths of 2018". Leader-Telegram. 31 December 2018.
  17. Buckli, Ron (28 August 2014). "Buckshot history chock full of stories". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  18. Buckli, Ron (1 September 2022). "Buckshot Run returns for 40th edition". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
  19. Buckli, Ron (2 September 2019). "Buckshot Run: Special Olympian makes Eau Claire 5-mile history". Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin).
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