Cloverdale Vineyard Races being held this Sunday
It’s harvest season, which means it’s time to run through vineyards. The eighth annual Cloverdale Vineyard Races will be held at Asti Winery on Sunday, Oct. 21.
The event is run by the Cloverdale Kiwanis Club, and used as a fundraiser to support the club’s involvement in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
“I went to the Kiwanis International Convention in 2009 and I learned about the Imagination Library,” said Greg Carter, race director. After hearing about the program, he wanted to try and figure out a way to bring the Imagination Library to Cloverdale. “I had a been a runner and had done a number of races, I said let’s put on a race. In October 2011 we had our first running of the race.”
The Imagination Library is a program that gifts books to children starting from birth, and continues until they turn five and start school. The Kiwanis Club also holds literary programs at Jefferson Elementary School and Washington Middle School that are meant to promote reading after the gifting program ends. While the Cloverdale Vineyard Races initially began to fund the Imagination Library, it now helps fund this program as well.
The Vineyard Races started out at the Citrus Fair in 2011, but have transformed over the past seven years to softer and softer ground. Now the races take place throughout the dirt roads in Asti Winery, and runners get the opportunity to spend the race running through vineyards.
“Most of the distances are run out on these dirt roads,” said Carter. “I run along and there are the grapes next to me. For those folks who don’t live around here, it’s pretty cool to be running in there along the vineyards.”
The races primarily attract participants from Sonoma County, but have seen people come from as far as Brazil, Japan and England.
“As far as we know, we’re the only race like this that runs in the vineyards,” said Carter. “We consider this race the best of both worlds — you’re not having to contend with cars and curbs and stop signs, and at the same time it’s a nice soft surface like a trail race but you’re not having to deal with roots.”
For Carter, who’s a runner himself, the most exciting part about putting on the event is seeing everyone come across the finish line. “Some people come across and they’re just super excited — just seeing how excited people are to have done something or accomplished a goal. We have the honor of being the place where people did it.”
Those interested in registering for Sunday’s races can do so by visiting www.cloverdalevineyardraces.org. At press time, spots for the 5k were sold out. Other running options include a full marathon, half marathon and 10k. Registration cost varies depending on what size race you run.
