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Uploaded: Thursday, February 14, 2013, 1:24 PM
Town considers hosting race in May
New race would replace cancelled Devil Mountain Run
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by Jessica Lipsky
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 | Danville residents may soon have another opportunity to run locally if the Town Council adopts a proposal by a local business.
At a Feb. 12 study session, Forward Motion Sports Owner Marty Breen proposed the Danville Devil Mountain Run -- a fun run, 5K and 10K hill climb that would replace the recently cancelled Devil Mountain Run. The annual event would replicate Devil Mountain from a route and logistic perspective.
"We would like to have an event in Danville which promotes health and wellness in the community," Breen wrote in a letter to the town. "We would like to create our event not just for elites to come out and race, but for families to come out and run, walk and hike and seniors to come out and walk and hike."
Forward Motion's Wednesday night run regularly draws 50 to 150 people, Breen noted, and the proposed Devil Mountain race should draw approximately 2,000 participants. Forty percent of runners would be local to Danville, 30 percent from surrounding cities, 20 percent from the greater East Bay and the remaining 10 percent from out of the area. Breen also expects two or three 5K participants for every one 10K participant.
"We also will have 200 volunteers involved in preplanning, setup, day of activities and/or clean up. These will most likely all come from the community and build a great sense of character and pride in doing good for the town which ties in to another main goal for the council of 'positive community appearance,'" Breen wrote.
Danville Devil Mountain would be sponsored by local businesses who would, in turn, promote the run through sales and special events. Breen added that he hoped to have a "swag bag" for each participant filled with deals from the sponsors.
"Having local sponsors participating ties in directly to the town's promotion of economic vitality and growth," Breen noted. "If just 50 percent of the participants take part in the pasta feed of post race meals that is an extra 1,000 meals for the downtown that ma have
otherwise not occurred."
The Town Council and other Danville officials were receptive to the Danville Devil Mountain Run and asked for the item to be put on the agenda for the next Council meeting, Economic Development Manager Jill Bergman said.
If approved, the Council would need to get street closures in place in order to begin advertising and marketing. The run would take place on May 5.
At its next meeting, the Town Council will consider cost recovery and the opportunity for other applications, as well as impacts upon emergency response, timeliness of the proposal and whether the request is consistent with established goals and practices related to street closures.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Running family, a member of the Vista Grande Elementary School community, on Feb 15, 2013 at 7:02 am We miss the Devil Mountain Run - it was a great way for families and friends to come together and enjoy a morning of running. So many other local communities have their local run and it would be a shame that we would let this one go. Primos is fun but you end up in SR. I fully agree with Marty that this run is important in keeping things "local". I'm not sure why the town would deny it??
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Posted by JRM, a member of the Vista Grande Elementary School community, on Feb 15, 2013 at 9:21 am Dear Town Council:
I hope you will approve proceeding with this event. I have run the race for each of the last 20 years up until last year's lamentable cancellation. I was happy to write a check to Children's Hospital for $35.00 to run a course I run for free 4 times a week and I'd be happy to write a check again for a deserving organization. What always impresses me about this event is the FAMILIES I see running together, many for the first time. Lots of boys and girls get to experience the excitement of running in a race for the first time and having our wonderful downtown as the nucleus makes it even more special. Given our national and state initiatives on fitness on endeavoring to reduce the obesity epidemic this is right in line with those objectives. How about having a member of Mike Shimansky's family fire off the opening gun in his honor?
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Posted by FanDanville, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 15, 2013 at 10:10 am It's the STREET CLOSURES and interference with everyone else's TRANSPORTATION ability and timing that is the only PROBLEM that I see.
NOT BLOCKING our primary road routes needs to be the PRIMARY CONSIDERATION AND PRIORITY!
If that neighborhood concern can be focused on by our Council members (because the runners don't really care), then it sounds like a nice idea.
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Posted by Wayne Resident, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Feb 15, 2013 at 8:28 pm No worries from me...we like having the runners circle back south from Wayne and we enjoy cheering them on...maybe this year the race can be dedicated to supporting the Save Open Space citizen's movement opposing all the developement the Danville Town Council has on their upcoming agenda. Let's run to save Danville for our kids!!
Keep Danville Danville...we have the power..
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Posted by Harvey, a member of the Monte Vista High School community, on Feb 17, 2013 at 7:53 pm We DO indeed have the Power. Sign the petitions at every available opportunity folks.
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Posted by Kathie Hixon, a member of the Montair Elementary School community, on Feb 19, 2013 at 10:32 am This is a unique tradition for SRV, promoting health and a grand sense of community,and importantly fund raising, historically for
Childrens Hospital. After participating in the Devil Mt.Run for 23 years, first as a runnner and in recent years as a walker I am lamenting the loss of this special community gatherng. Thank you Marty Breen of Forward Motion Sports for taking the lead on proposing the Danville Devil Mt. Run. I suggest supporting our local businesses as well, they are stepping up to the plate for preservation of our
traditions.
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Posted by Tango, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 20, 2013 at 7:57 am If the town council misses this one I will be astounded to say the least. If it is a Danvile event, keep it in Danville and secure a route that runs thru some of the more scenic and fun parts of our great town. Bishop Ranch does not fit that bill. For those who lament the the few hours of disturbance I really feel you should re-think that position. I am frequent participant and the event is part of the fabric of what makes this town so wonderful. A no brainer !!
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Posted by SALLY, a resident of the Danville neighborhood, on Feb 20, 2013 at 12:03 pm This is great news !!
The Devil Mt Run has been a tradition in our family for years :>)
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