Run of the Mill’s return draws in the runners

Any thoughts that the Run of the Mill is no longer a relevant event in Mill Creek were put to rest Saturday.

The July 8 5K race drew more than 400 entrants, many of them signing up in the final six days leading up to the event. As of July 2, 198 people had registered to participate.

This year’s participation was higher than the last three years, when the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce managed the race. Last year’s event drew 260 participants.

The turnout is even more impressive considering that the race’s future was uncertain until early June, when Mill Creek resident Steve Knox had his company, Columbia Funding Mortgage, take the lead in keeping the race alive.

“We are absolutely thrilled,” Knox said Monday. “We could not have had a better day.”

This year’s race, sponsored by a variety of local and regional companies, was a benefit for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, with all funds from entry fees going to the foundation. Although a final total wasn’t immediately available, Knox estimated that more than $9,000 was raised for the foundation from race entries.

“We’re being conservative,” he said.

The day went so well that Knox said that planning is already under way for the 2007 race, which will be the 22nd edition of the Run of the Mill.

Knox shared the credit for the race coming off as well as it did with others. He said the city of Mill Creek “made it easy to get it done” by assisting with a variety of issues. He also credited a “phenomenal committee,” including race director Jon Hickey for all his work; Knox’s wife, Linda, for going door-to-door to get sponsors; the cross-country coaches at Jackson High School, who helped get several coaches from around the state to come to Mill Creek to help run the event; and the Jackson High School Booster Club, which helped volunteer on race day.

“There’s no way I could’ve done this alone,” Steve Knox said.

The race drew a wide variety of participants from Mill Creek and elsewhere, from as young as a year old to 83-year-old Roelif Laughlin of Shoreline. Also taking part were longtime Run of the Mill participants Karen Lovick, wife of state Rep. John Lovick of Mill Creek, and Mayor Donna Michelson.

Once again, the race was a family event for Selma Bonham, 80, of Mill Creek. Her children and grandchildren came from around the state and from as far away as St. Louis to take part in the event.

“This big chant of ‘Selma, Selma’ came up from my friends from Lake Forest Park as I approached the finish line,” Bonham said. “It was outstanding.”

The race also had a new course this year, starting and ending in Mill Creek Town Center and not going into the residential neighborhoods along Village Green Drive, the course for the race’s first 20 years.

“It was more level,” Bonham said.