CULLMAN – The 24th annual EvaBank Midnight Run was an absolute smash last night, with the torrential rains clearing out about an hour before start time. Cullman City Parks & Rec brought back the black lights and color stations this year; the only difference from 2015’s race was that CP&R decided to satisfy the more serious runner, by giving away a $250 cash prize for overall male and female runners and medals for the age division winners. The race was also chip timed.
“This is something that goes back to our Parks and Recreation Foundation so all the money raised off this event goes to the projects we’re doing with that. Right now we’re doing a big community playground project that we’re working on, our Connected Park,” said Waid Harbison, marketing, programs & events director at CP&R. “The big thing about this event too that makes it so successful is we have great sponsors with EvaBank. I say it all the time; they’re the best sponsors we have for any event, hands down. They’re very hands on; they do a fantastic job”
EvaBank Marketing Director Megan Smith gave her reasons why the bank is such a big sponsor of the Midnight Run. “I really love the fact that this actually benefits the civic center. They do so much for everybody else, this is something for them.”
Paula Bodkin, CFO of EvaBank also expressed her thoughts “It’s just a great way to support the community and network with all the different businesses, track teams, runners and people from all over Alabama,” she said.
The run was not your run-of-the-mill show up, run and leave type of event First off, it started at midnight, which means it was perfect weather. Second, CP&R hired a snazzy DJ for the pre-race and post-race parties. What are those you may ask? The parties consisted of lots of Cullman runners and non-runners having a lot of fun in the Cullman Civic Center parking lot with loads of glow sticks, glow powder and glow shirts. The run was a family-friendly event, so there were runners of all ages getting pumped up in the parking lot to Megan Trainor and Calvin Harris jams.
A couple of local runners, Amber Robinson and her husband Kevin, were running with friend Melanie Haynes and her daughter Megan. “It’s adventure, it’s like Black Friday shopping,” laughed Robinson.
Said Haynes, “See there’s not a lot of people that are going to do that. Anyone can run Saturday morning but Friday night at midnight, no way.”
There were multiple booths set up all around the event, inside and outside the civic center. Alpha Nutrition was giving out free samples, Cullman Regional Medical Center was offering free health screenings and EvaBank was doing face-painting for the kids, young and old.
Check out the CP&R website for more fun events coming up soon at http://cullmanrecreation.org/.
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