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Labor of Love Run
The 26th Annual Labor of Love Run is quickly approaching so mark your calendars for Monday, September 6 and start training. The race, which is one of Northeast Ohio’s premier running events, saw well over one thousand runners make their way over the five-mile and one-mile courses for the benefit of Akron Pregnancy Services last year. Now we have added another great beneficiary in the Pregnancy Support Center of Stark County for this year. Come to run the race, volunteer, or join the thousands of spectators who participate in this family-friendly event.
Online Registration
Sign up today online and be eligible to win a 20% OFF gift card at Ritchies and, if you are our grand prize winner, a new pair of running shoes FREE! This promotion is for online registrations only. Double your chances of winning if you register by July 31. It’s fast and easy. Just click on the links below.
Labor of Love Run History
The Labor of Love Run has a rich history. In 1984 a small group from The Chapel assembled to plan a runner-friendly race event that would attract area runners and help support the Akron Pregnancy Services.
Today the Labor of Love Run has developed into one of Northeast Ohio’s premier five-mile races. At the same time, it has become a fantastic family-friendly outreach event. It is about people interacting with other people.
It’s a time of greeting, sharing, loving, and coming alongside fellow runners as we journey through "the race marked out for us." It's an opportunity for folks to learn more about The Chapel, to get plugged into a community group, and to feel the love that Jesus called us to actively demonstrate.
Benefits
All proceeds will benefit Akron Pregnancy Services and Pregnancy Support Center of Stark County.
Shop Online
Visit our new online store to purchase Labor of Love Run merchandise.
Prizes Awarded to Five Mile Racers
Overall male/female
- $300 for first
- $200 for second
- $100 for third
Master male/female
- $100 for first
Age Groups (men and women)
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Previous Years' Five Mile Run Winning Times
Men's Division |
Women's Division |
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2009 Results
Thoughts by Dale Saylor
Labor Day morning, 2009 marked the 25th Anniversary for one of Northeast Ohio’s premier running events—the Labor of Love Run. Well over one thousand runners made their way over the five-mile and one-mile courses for the benefit of Akron Pregnancy Services.
It was fantastic to see over four hundred Chapel volunteers mobilized to bless in excess of three thousand from our cities. This year’s race was more than just a runner-friendly event—it included a fun-packed Family Celebration. Folks were afforded opportunities to develop conversations while partaking of a wide range of great snacks like ice cream, funnel cakes, pizza, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches and caramel corn. Kids had faces painted, obtained balloons, played on inflatables, rode ponies, enjoyed carnival games and won door prizes.
The Expo Tent offered an array of information for ministry opportunities with Global Missions, ABF’s and HABF’s, Kid’s Ministry, Chapel Community Services, Ministry to Men, Sports Ministry, Operation Christmas Child, and many others.
Mark Zimmerman from WCRF broadcast live from our event and was able to share our mission and enthusiasm with listeners from the entire listening area. As the Chapel moves forward with our Embrace Tomorrow vision—this event will continue to offer opportunities to impact new lives.
If you were unable to attend this year’s Labor of Love Run Celebration, mark your calendar for Labor Day 2010, September 6th.
Thoughts by Amy Cameron
If there is one thing that I am learning it is that running is not easy. No, running is down right hard. The endurance that is required is incredible. Everytime I run lately, I think about how tough it is and always remind myself that life is harder. The verse “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1) has been coming to mind each time I feel like I can’t keep going. I reflect on how tired I am and how much I want to stop and then I remind myself that if I can’t keep going this short distance, how can I run the race marked out for me–the real race. The harder race.
Running really does parellel life in so many ways. I think that’s why this year’s Labor of Love run meant more to me than ever before. The race benefits the Akron Pregnancy Services and over 1,000 runners and walkers came out. It takes an amazing amount of coordinating and so many people were there to help make it a success. Pastor Dale Saylor (who put hundreds of hours into this event!) from The Chapel asked us to capture some photographs and I wanted to share a few with you.
In order to get some great shots, Dale asked me to go up 60 feet in the air. I was a little nervous but Fred did a great job operating the equipment and I actually enjoyed the view. It’s much less scary than it looks … trust me, I am a baby.
Thoughts by Fred Muffet
Wow! I better say that again. Wow! The 25th Annual Labor of Love Run to benefit Akron Pregnancy Service was combined this year with a Family Celebration.
The event drew over 1,000 runners and walkers, some running in a run/walk one mile, and many more running in a serious five-mile event.
How many more came just to enjoy the Family Celebration is anybody's guess, but it was a very well received and attended event.
One thousand runners takes a whole lot of volunteers as support, and I believe there were over 300 of them involved today. Most every department at The Chapel was involved in this event. Maintenance and custodians, what a wonderful job of setting up tents, moving tables and chairs, and keeping the trash removed. Sports Ministry, this went so smoothly that the outside observer would have no idea of the hundreds of hours signing up runners, getting T shirts out, and the water and break stations manned.
Camp Carl, what an effort! They brought several ponies to the event, and I personally watched Mike Landis walk about a hundred miles leading kids on a pony—but every child had a smile! Food Services offered funnel cakes, sno-cones, hot dogs, sausage, cotton candy and drinks.
Sandy and I cannot thank our CCS volunteers enough. Some started arriving at 5:30 am to set up. Coordinating the 300 or so volunteers was Pat Craig and Breanna Shields, who together with so many made this a happening event for such a worthy cause. A Family Celebration it was!
2008 Race Results
- View the 2008 Overall Results
- View the 2008 Team Results
- View the 2008 Results Based on Age
2008 Event Report
On Labor Day morning, the 2008 Labor of Love Run attracted nearly 500 runners (including elite runners from Kenya and Argentina) to traverse a certified five-mile course. In addition over 900 joggers and walkers of all ages made their way along the one-mile course that winds through the University of Akron.
Three-hundred Chapel volunteers offered their services to plan and execute the myriad of tasks required to offer the Labor of Love Run. The event brought a crowd of 3,000 to the Akron Campus. Little ones with parents and grandparents stood in line to interact with a balloon man, a juggler, face-painters, or to get a photo with area mascots like the University of Akron’s Zippy.
Our Expo Tent offered information from a wide variety of groups such as Operation Christmas Child, CCS (Chapel Community Services), The Chapel’s Sports Ministry, the Akron Marathon, and others.
WCRF with morning host Mark Zimmerman broadcasting live from The Chapel to homes all across Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
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