The United Way of St. Charles’ Bridge Run can expect some new faces this year, but two seasoned pros who have taken part in the race since its founding are eager to get started.
Luling residents Arthur and Amelia Gassen have beaten the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge every year since 1997.
“Oh yes, we’ll be there,” Amelia said. “Except [Arthur] has a faster pace than me and always runs ahead.”
Arthur “Mutsey” Gassen, who’ll be 91 years old on April 13, and his wife, who is 87, have been running actively since 1984. Arthur has run the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans every year except one, the Nokia Sugar Bowl Mardi Gras Half -Marathon several times, the Symphony Run, and participated in the Louisiana Senior Olympics Games, where he won five gold medals earlier this month.
As long as he’s been doing it and as much as he loves it now, originally it wasn’t Arthur’s idea. His wife, wearing a yellow shirt with ‘Run like a Grandma” on back of the shirt told the story.
“I started running with my neighbor,” Amelia said. “She asked me to run with her and then to run in some races with her. Well, I won in my age group and just kept on doing it. Then I needed some company on my runs so I asked him. He used to run in high school and now since he got into it, I sort of feel like I created a monster.”
Arthur worked his entire career at the Avondale Shipyard and he said he used to run up two flights of stairs every day, several times a day, and believes he stayed in great shape all his life because of it.
Along with his wife, he rides his bike some days, walks every day and swims for an hour three days a week at the Elmwood Fitness Center. He said he doesn’t need to train for the Bridge Run because he walks at least five miles every day. When he takes his bike, he nearly double this distance. “I like to stay active, Gassen said. “It keeps me busy and feeling good.”
The Bridge Run, which has both a 10K and 5K race, will get underway on March 28 at 8:15 a.m.
The 10K race begins in New Sarpy across from the Seafood Pot at 8:15 a.m. and will travel down the levee in front of Ormond Plantation, St. Charles Borromeo Church and Destrehan Plantation before uniting with the 5K runners and walkers at the foot of the Hale Boggs Bridge.
The 5K race starts at 8:40 a.m. at the East Bank Bridge Park in Destrehan and crosses the Hale Boggs Bridge to the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling.
After the race, participants can celebrate by listening to music, eating jambalaya and drinking Bud Light, Kentwood Springs water and Coca-Cola.
“Workout Wear” costume contest awards will be given to best individual and group costume. Winners will be announced at the post race event.
St. Charles Parish Hospital will have EMT units, and in conjunction with Ochsner Hospital, they will furnish a medi-flight helicopter.
Dr. Jackson Earle Hatfield, family health practitioner with St. Charles Parish Hospital, offered a few tips for those heading out to the race.
“Stay hydrated and listen to the body’s warning signs, such as sitting down if soreness occurs. It’s also important to get enough sleep the night before the race and plan the food that will eaten throughout the day,” he said. “In the morning, bananas are a good choice, maybe a bagel or an energy bar – carbohydrates are fuel. Pay attention to last-minute weather details and plan accordingly.”
Registration for the run is currently open at the United Way, 13207 River Road in Luling. Melissa Fredrick, of the United Way, advised runners to register early when the fee is $35. On day of the race, registration fee is $45.
Race day registration and packet pickup begins at 6:30 am. on Saturday, March 28 at the West Bank Bridge Park.
Arthur said he loves everything about the race except he’d like to see the way the media covers change just a bit.“I’d like to see the names of the winners by age group printed in the paper,” he said. “The people I’ve talked to say they like to see that too.”
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