Annual ‘Lincoln Mile’ race goes on amid pandemic

The downtown race went off without a hitch Sunday as volunteers and participants followed directed health measures during the event.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The annual downtown race went off without a hitch Sunday morning as volunteers and participants followed directed health measures during the event.

The race that happens around this time every year went on as usual Sunday, with some changes in order to keep people safe.

People of all ages ran their hearts out and the Race Director, Ann Ringlein, said they were shocked by the amount of participants they had in the year of uncertainty.

The event was approved by the Health Department to happen as long as volunteers and runners followed directed health measures.

“We started right away talking with the health department and they gave us great guidelines. I told the track coaches jokingly but also kinda not kidding, I said if the health department tells us to come with purple hair today, we are all coming with purple hair. We are doing what they say because I don’t want to mess things up for other things that are going to happen in the future” said Ringlein.

Runners were required to wear masks up until their designated race and were handed a new mask once they crossed the finish line. Participants were asked to bring their own water this year, and the event had seven medical professionals on site taking temperatures of the volunteers. The race asked spectators to stay home this year to limit the amount of crowding in downtown that usually takes place.

Pictures and postings of the event can be found here or on the Lincoln Mile Facebook page.