Keeping the Spirit of the Strawberry Shortcut alive in spite of COVID-19
Josh Chavez running the Strawberry Shortcut in 2017 Running Down Memory Lane with The Strawberry Shortcut By Annie Uyehara There is no shortcut when it comes to the impact COVID-19 has had on our nation and the annual Strawberry Shortcut race is no exception. This summer would have been the race’s 43rd year of running the 10K, 5K, and the one mile Family Fun Run, with proceeds going to the Special Olympics. Although it’s been canceled (or postponed, more on that later) along with Strawberry Days, on which day the race is run, it’s good to remember what the Shortcut has done for community members with disabilities and for the Special Olympics. Mike Kishimoto, Glenwood’s high school track coach, who took the reins as race director last year, is currently trying to find a way to make it happen this year “in a lowkey manner.” Until then, we’ll go back a few years, back to 1978 when some 200 racers ran the first Strawberry Shortcut. It was a fun, local race