The Heart Run goes virtual, and draws runners from Angoon to Anchorage to Albuquerque

From Angoon to Anchorage to Albuquerque, hundreds of people and dozens of dogs ran and walked their own personal Alaska Heart Run on Saturday.

In Palmer, 70-year-old Deb Budzor walked for an hour with her dog, picking up litter along the way, in celebration of the heart valve surgery she had 13 years ago that keeps her going today.

At the Service High track in Anchorage, several members of the Birch family ran 5,000 meters in honor of family patriarch Chris Birch, the Alaska state senator who died of a ruptured aorta last summer.

On the actual Heart Run course in the University District, Michelle Baxter of Anchorage ran a postpartum-PR by completing the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 18 seconds. Six months ago, she gave birth to Bjorn, who waited for her Saturday at the “finish line” with dad Craig and older brother Cullen, 5. A few months after Cullen was born, Baxter ran a 19:30 postpartum 5K, giving her a goal to chase Saturday.

Good thing, because Baxter didn’t have anything else to chase. She pretty much had the race course to herself — she shared the streets with a handful of other people, some walking, some jogging.

“I didn’t have to worry about cars,” she said.

With most of the city hunkering down to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the parking lot at the Alaska Airlines Center — where the annual fundraiser for the American Heart Association usually starts and ends — was vacant but for a few empty cars. When the virtual race began around 9 a.m., there were more people ice fishing at Cheney Lake than running on the Heart Run course.

But that was expected. By going virtual, the Heart Run followed a state mandate that prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people. Instead, race organizers encouraged participants to log 3.2 miles wherever and however they wanted.

The race went live on Facebook at 8:30 a.m. for pre-race activities — the singing of the national anthem, warmups led by two workers from The Alaska Club and information on heart health and how to donate to the American Heart Association.

Participants were encouraged to download race bibs from the Heart Run’s website and upload race-day photos to social media. About 500 people participated in the 42nd annual event, spokeswoman Valerie Koch said, and more than $130,000 was raised.

“I had my valve surgery in 2007 and walked the Heart Run 30 days later. It took me 45 (minutes),” Budzor said in a Facebook post the day before the race. “I brought along a little backpack (with a) 3 legged stool thinking I might need to sit down, but did not need it! I have done it every year since and will be doing it in my neighborhood this year. Come on folks go out and walk 3 miles this Saturday, YOU CAN DO IT!!”

Budzor said she walked on sidewalks in downtown Palmer. On the way home, she filled three dog-poop bags with litter.

“I don’t jog anymore (since knee replacement) but walked for an hour which (is) how long it took me to do the official course last year,” she said Saturday via Facebook messenger. “I had my dog Bear along and he forces me to walk fast!”

The Heart Run’s Instagram and Facebook pages were filled with posts and photos from participants.

“I’ve done this run many times in Anchorage, so it was fun to participate this morning from Bethel,” said a post from @aliciainalaska. “I just started running again and it was difficult but outside was peaceful and made me grateful that despite everything happening in the world right now, this is my escape!”

From Angoon came a poignant post from Sara Sallee Lang. “In memory of my son-in-law — Jake Woolard,” she wrote, accompanied by a photo of a T-shirt with a big red heart encircling Jake’s name and the day he died — Jan. 27 of this year.

Jake was 30 years old when he died of a heart attack, Lang said. She walked in his memory Saturday in Angoon along with Jake’s dog, Rocco. In Juneau, Jake’s wife Janie and their young daughter June did the walk wearing T-shirts that matched Lang’s.

Jennifer and Mike Ford posted a photo with their dog Harley. “We are getting heart healthy with Harley!” they wrote. Amie Haakenson posted one of her dog, Dixie, wearing a race bib and a sweat band. “Your HEART is important but so is your K9s too! Bring you four legged workout partners when you are active!” she wrote.

Runners ranging from Maui to Albuquerque posted photos, as did the Birch family of Anchorage. Chris Birch was an state senator and an active member of the cross-country ski community who died last summer at age 68.

“Chris’s Crusaders crushed it on the track at Service today!” wrote daughter-in-law Heather Birch. “We ran a 5K as a family in memory of our very special Dad, husband, grandpa and friend, Chris Birch. Thanks, Chris for sending the sunshine! We love and miss you!”

At UAA, Michelle Baxter ran the actual race course. Though the virtual race began at 9 a.m., she started around 10:30 a.m.

“We took our time getting out the door,” she said. “It was kinda nice.”

The run itself was challenging.

“I’ve done a couple time trials on a treadmill and The Dome, but I’ve never done a race on my own, so that was pretty different,” Baxter said. “I’m pretty good at staying mentally engaged, but I’m sure I could’ve cut 10 or 15 seconds if I’d had people to run with or people cheering for me.”

Baxter, 37, is one of Anchorage’s top road runners with a 5K personal-best of 18:30. She works as a personal coach and for Skinny Raven, and she misses the experience of real races.

“I live for the summer races up here. That’s what keeps me motivated in the winter, because I want to do well in the races,” said Baxter, who placed 14th in the women’s division at last year’s Heart Run. “I get to see all my friends and the athletes I train, so yeah, I’m really bummed.”

It’s uncertain when races like the Heart Run will return. Next month’s Gold Nugget Triathlon and July’s Mount Marathon have been postponed until late summer, and some races have been canceled altogether.

The Heart Run’s decision to go forward as a virtual event kept the fundraising aspect of the race alive — and it inspired a few hundred people to run and walk on Saturday morning.

“Hopefully next year we’ll be back on the course at the Alaska Airlines Center,” Budzor said.

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