EDUCATION

Alanson Inflatable 1K draws in 55 participants

Karly Graham
The Petoskey News-Review
Race participants pose for a photo for the first annual Alanson Inflatable 1K on Saturday, May 27. The event was started to raise money for students to go on field trips during the 2023-24 school year.

ALANSON — If you found yourself near the Alanson Public Library Saturday morning, you may have had to ask yourself: What's with all the flamingos?

Children and adults alike filled the blacktop, all dressed in different inflatable costumes, ranging from flamingos, to aliens, to wolves and more.

Grant Engel ended the race in second place. He provided the blow-up costume for Alanson's promotions of the 1K event.
The Inflatable 1K race started at the park behind the Alanson Public Library and took runners around the block up U.S. 31.

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Right before 9 a.m., they lined up under an inflatable rainbow arch and prepared to run in the 2023 Alanson Inflatable 1K.

The event was thought up by Alanson fifth grade teacher Kevin VarnHagen, who wanted to find a creative way to raise money for field trips for the next school year. The trips are for an overnight trip to Camp Daggett and an overnight trip to Lansing.

Runners took off in their inflatable costumes with smiles donning their faces in Alanson on Saturday, May 27. The 1K race was a fundraiser for Alanson students.

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Teacher Kevin VarnHagen hands out a trophy to the first place winner, Molly VarnHagen, at the Alanson Inflatable 1K on Saturday, May 27.

A total of 55 people participated in the race. Individuals running paid $20, and families running paid $40. VarnHagen said that while they didn't reach their fundraising goal, the event did qualify as a world record holder for the largest gathering of inflatable costumes for a 1K footrace.

The school will continue fundraising in the fall, and VarnHagen hopes to break the world record again next year.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham atkgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at@KarlyGrahamJRN.