Run Captured In Photos

Out of the gates in 2008	Matthew Gabrielson, top finisher, crosses the finish line	Complimentary sports massges	Kids' Central has many fun activities

Hometown Hero Wins 2008 'Back in Shape Run'

Matthew Gabrielson, of Minneapolis, Minn., was the top finisher in Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Back in Shape Run in June 2008. Finishing in 14:23, Gabrielson won $1,500 — part of the largest prize purse in the state of Minnesota. The top-finishing female was Amy Lyons, of Mounds View, Minn., who also won $1,500. She finished in an impressive 17:19. Both Gabrielson and Lyons won $1,000 each for being the top male and female finishers and $500 each for being the top American male and female finishers.

A total of 271 people registered for the Back in Shape Run, 31 participated in the walk and 56 children took part in the kids’ 1/4-mile and 1/2-mile races. Additionally, a mascot race was held featuring Northwestern’s mascot, Vinnie the Vertebrate amongst various other local mascots.

The event featured a difficult course that attracted runners from around the country, including: Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to raise pledges for Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People, an organization dedicated to providing assistance to low-income people in Bloomington, Richfield and South Minneapolis; and the Patrick Holmes Memorial Scholarship Fund, a scholarship that supports Northwestern students interested in pursuing research as a career path. The scholarship was created to honor former Northwestern employee Patrick Holmes, who died in August 2007 in the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Among the perks offered to participants were an outlandish post-race buffet, free massages, access to indoor bathrooms, free use of the University’s heated pool, and a variety of prizes, including airline tickets, theater tickets, and gift certificates. Additionally, the race offered the state’s largest prize purse for a 5K — $6,550. The purse included a $1,000 cash prize for the top male and top female finishers; a $500 cash prize for the top finishing male and female Americans; a $500 cash prize for the race’s second-place male and female runners; a $300 cash prize for the race’s third-place male and female runners; a $200 cash prize for the race’s fourth-place male and female runners; a $100 cash prize for the race’s fifth-place male and female runner; $25 Visa gift cards for the first-place male and female finishers in each of 15 age categories; and $10 Visa gift cards to the second- and third-place male and female finishers in each of 15 age categories. Additionally, all 22 first-time runners received a medal. Setting a course record was worth a $250 bonus.