Annual Crazylegs Classic Draws Record Numbers
April 25, 2008 | General News
The 27th annual Crazylegs Classic 8K run and 2-mile walk will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. from the Capitol Square in Madison. The 8K wheel chair race starts at 9:45 a.m. from the Capitol Square while the walk begins at the intersection of State Street and Carroll Street at 10 a.m.
This annual harbinger of spring has over 16,000 entrants this year surpassing last year 's record total of 14,996. Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne will serve as the grand marshal who starts the race. Cindy Alvarez and Suzy Favor Hamilton will lead the race walkers to the stadium. The race finish on the 50-yard line of Camp Randall Stadium will be live video streamed on uwbadgers.com.
Participants may still register in person at the packet pickup sites today and Saturday. Race packets may be picked up today from noon-8 p.m. and Saturday from 7-9 a.m. at the Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton Street.
Race day shuttles from the Camp Randall Arch on Randall Avenue and from the Kohl Center on Dayton Street to the race start will operate from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Participants and fans may park for free until 2 p.m. at a number of lots around Camp Randall Stadium or the Kohl Center.
The Crazylegs Classic post-race festival is a long time favorite of the hard-core runner and fun-seeker alike. Race participants are replenished with free fruit and bottled water, while complimentary beer and the UW Marching Band's legendary 5th Quarter performance provide that unique Wisconsin flavor. This year the band will be The LoveMonkeys!
The Crazylegs Classic welcomes friends, families, fans, and spectators of Crazylegs participants to watch the race finish. Spectators can gain access to Camp Randall Stadium to view the race finish and take part in the post-race festivities. Please follow appropriate signs for non-participants. Spectators are not allowed on the Camp Randall field, so please plan your post-race meetings accordingly. Pre-determine a section and row. (Ex. sections A-K, rows 1-50)
The race, a fundraiser, is named in honor of the legendary Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. Elroy, the native son of Wausau who won All-American honors as a collegian and NFL Hall of Fame designation before becoming Athletic Director at the University of Wisconsin. The event has raised close to $3 million to support UW athletics, underwriting scholarships for men and women student-athletes in all sports.
Race History Quick Facts
' The first race, held in 1982, attracted 1,525 runners and raised $9,500.
' Walkers were added in 1987 and now make up one- third of the participants.
' The starting line has always been on the Capitol Square, although it has moved to different spots.
' 2006 was the first year of the wave start
' The finish line is always at the 50-yard line inside Camp Randall, which is one of the race's highlights
' The UW Marching Band serenades participants at the start and finish lines
' Crazylegs T- shirts are a very popular item worn throughout the year
' The race has never been cancelled, even when there were snow flurries in 1988
' Runner's World magazine has rated Crazylegs as one of America's 100 best events.
' The first race to crack the 10,000 mark for participants was in 2000
' Chip timing devices were first used in 2003
' The first race after the death of Hirsch in 2004 set a record for participants with more than 12,000, and 13,555 participated in 2005.
' The race has raised almost $3 million for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics program
