Author: Laurie Gerner

Parking for WaunaFest Run 2022

Packet pickup for the WaunaFest Run will be held at the Waunakee Village Center (at 333 S. Madison St., Waunakee) on Friday, July 29th from 3:30-6:30pm and from 6:00am until race time on Saturday, July 30th.

The parking lot at the Waunakee Village Center will be under construction starting the week of July 25th, so parking will be limited.

  • The Madison Street entrance will be CLOSED July 25 through August 2nd.
    • All traffic will need to enter the parking lot from the Bacon/3rd Street corner.
  • Customer parking WILL be allowed in the lot – but will be limited and marked by the contractor.
  • The contractor will block off work zones – but parking near those areas puts your car at risk of dust/flying materials.
  • Handicap stalls in front of the building will have limited to no availability.
  • Temporary handicap stalls will be created by portable signs as close to the front door as possible.
  • The majority of the sidewalk in front of the building (left and right of the front doors) will be replaced and unusable during this time.
    • The main entrance will remain open.
  • Customer parking will also be available in the Madison Street bump-out, as well as on 3rd Street.

Participants and volunteers can also park along neighboring streets or at the following locations:

St. John’s Church at 209 South Street
Dane Manufacturing at 600 Marshall Drive
American Legion Post #360 at 417 E. Main Street

The following map shows their proximity to the Waunakee Village Center. (Click HERE for a PDF of the following image.)

Ted Tweed “Honored and Humbled”

After we officially named our 10 mile race the “Ted Tweed 10 Mile,” Ted submitted a letter to the Waunakee Tribune thankful for the honor. Ted shared some background on the race, including how it came to be, and the ideas behind Fritz and the cannon. We’re sharing his letter in its entirety here:

“Sometimes things grow in a surprising way. Like eating spinach – the more you chew on it, the bigger it gets! That’s the way with the WaunaFest Run. That little run has turned into a village tradition. Who would have thought?

I find it hard to find enough words to properly thank Ellen Schaaf, the WaunaFest Run Committee, and the Chamber for the distinct honor of having the 10 mile version of the WaunaFest Run named the “Ted Tweed 10 Mile run.” I am honored and humbled. So, I’ll just say a hearty thank you. And, they even gave me a plaque to commemorate the honor. I couldn’t be more pleased!

Now, I have to say that the WaunaFest Run, or originally the Volfsfest Run, didn’t suddenly happen simply because I had the idea. I presented the idea to the Volksfest of the Arts folks (Collete Koltes and Dave Chalgren) who agreed that a run might bring more people to the festival. Funding for even a small race is critical so when I presented the idea to Jim Schmitz, then President of the First Wisconsin Bank of Waunakee, he essentially said, “whatever you need, you’ll have.” He was an outstanding sponsor and supportive member of the Run Committee for the 18 years that he and I had the race.

Then, knowing that a well established run like Stoughton’s Syttende Mai Run had a well known brand (the Viking Ship), I felt that we should do something similiar, something that would stand the test of time. I met with an artist friend, Steve Hovel, suggesting that he create a brand, or logo, that would represent not only a run, but something of Waunakee’s German heritage. And, Fritz (I call him) was born. He’s 43 years old and hasn’t aged a day! There he is in all his glory – in lederhosen, a little on the chubby side, running with a stein of malt beverage. I was thrilled with the design, especially after Fritz quit smoking his cigar after his first yar. Oh, did we hear about that. Runners don’t smoke.

After a year or two, I felt that we needed something to make us even more unique – something that would make folks say, “Can you believe what they have at the WaunaFest Run?” So, I brought in a cannon as the starting gun. (“You’ll be a bang out of our race,” said the race registration form.) There was no question that everyone heard the thing fire! Further, in a few years Jan Tweed (Ted’s wife, pictured together to the right) and a small ensemble from the Waunakee Community Band were there to provide live spirited tunes before the race and when winners were entering the finish area.

In addition, I must thank all of the many committee members who served during the first 18 years, and who carried out their assigned tasks with creativity and enthusiasm. Events like the WaunaFest Run don’t just happen, lots of folks are needed to make it successful. It’s been exciting to see how over the years the run has become bigger and better, thanks to Ellen Schaaf and Jeff Skoug and others at the Waunakee Chamber and the run committee. I don’t doubt that there’ll be a WaunaFest Run for many years to come. So, thank you again for all that you’ve done for me!

Ted Tweed

Swag Store Now Open!

Looking for some sweet swag for the WaunaFest Run?! Check out the WaunaFest Run Swag Store, which includes exclusive Ted Tweed 10 Mile apparel! If you’d like your swag in time for the race on July 30th, you need to order before July 17th. The online store will reopen on July 19th and remain open until Sunday, August 7th. Check it out here: https://43rdwaunafestrun.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The “Ted Tweed 10 Mile”

The Waunakee Chamber of Commerce and WaunaFest Run Committee awarded WaunaFest Run Race Founder, Ted Tweed a special recognition at the Waunakee Community Awards on June 5th, officially naming the 10 Mile Run the “Ted Tweed 10 Mile.”
Back in the 1970’s, Ted Tweed and Bob Niesen had an idea of organizing a little “foot race” in Waunakee. For the first race in 1979, 400 runners showed up to the race start, which at the time was the former Koltes Lumber Yard. (And is now Village Crossing where Lone Girl Brewing is located.) Ted and Bob were runners, and they quickly learned how to be race directors, juggling tons of details along the way! Many fun runs have come and gone through the years, but not the WaunaFest Run thanks in part to all those people led by Ted who helped make the race the iconic Waunakee tradition it is today.
In 2001, the Chamber was honored to take over race planning for the WaunaFest Run. Today, the Run happens every year during the last weekend of July as part of the annual 3-day WaunaFest celebration. The race is a fantastic fundraiser for the Chamber and a portion of the proceeds are donated back to WaunaFest to ensure the festival continues every year.
The Run is at beautiful Village Park and has more than 1200 runners and volunteers. Just like back when the race started, the run is still a social event where participants enjoy camaraderie with others at the start and finish. The intent is still to promote health and fitness and bring people to the community. The Chamber is lucky to partner with our businesses, the Village, citizens and volunteers to keep the tradition alive.
This year, the 43rd Annual WaunaFest Run is back in full force and will have a 5K run, 2-mile walk, kiddie run and a 10 mile run that marathoners love to compete in as preparation for a marathon.
Thank you, Ted, for bringing this run to our community and for all that you have done to support it through the years. Thank you for your hard work and vision in turning a little foot race into one of the best runs in the area!

Champion Level Sponsorship & Higher Available Thru June 3rd!

Champion level sponsorships or higher for the WaunaFest Run will be available through Friday, June 3rd! Supporting sponsors, which are listed on the race t-shirt, will be available until early July. See the chart below for specifics on each sponsorship level.
Email Polly Thuot at office@waunakeechamber.com if you have questions or would like to sponsor the event.

2022 WaunaFest Run Sponsorship

Sponsorships for the WaunaFest Run are now available! There are four sponsorship levels, starting at $395. What’s included in each sponsorship level is detailed below. Email Polly Thuot at office@waunakeechamber.com if you’d like to sponsor this year’s event.

2022 T-Shirt Colors

We have decided on our colors for the 2022 WaunaFest Run t-shirts! This year’s color is seafoam green with royal blue text. We think it has a beachy vibe and is different from anything we’ve done in the past. We hope you like it, too! Register for the 10 mile, 5K, 2 mile walk or the kiddie run to get yours!

Honorary Starters: Brenda Endres & Family

The family of Rex Endres of Rex’s Innkeeper will be the honorary race starters for the WaunaFest Run this year.  In July, the Waunakee community lost a beloved business icon, Rex Endres.  Rex was known for his warmth, energy and selfless care for his family, friends and customers.  When there was an event or cause in the community, Rex was the first person to step up with a donation, food, or whatever was needed.  Rex was a people person and you were only a stranger to him once.  For 33 years, Rex worked hand-in-hand with the Innkeeper staff, days, nights and weekends, whatever it took to make sure that everyone felt valued and welcomed, just like family.

Rex’s legacy of love, family, kindness, generosity and passion for his community will live on through Rex’s wife Brenda, and children Rachael, Michelle, Austin and Jordan, and their grandchildren Lily, Grace, Ethan, Ava and Max.  Our hearts are with you always, and on behalf of the Waunakee Chamber of Commerce, the Wauktoberfest Committee and all of Waunakee, thank you for being a special part of our event.

State Farm Masks for Every Runner!

Presenting sponsor, John Jensen of State Farm, is generously donating State Farm masks for EVERY runner of the WaunaFest Run! They will be in the bags at packet pickup, from 4-6 p.m. at the Village Center (333 S. Madison Street; enter at Village Park on Main Street) and from 8:30-10 a.m. at the race grounds on September 18th. Thank you, John!

COVID-19 Concerns

We decided to hold the WaunaFest Run at Wauktoberfest this year in hopes that the number of people affected by COVID-19 would be diminished. With the insurgence of the Delta variant, you may be concerned about your health and safety at the Run.

Please be assured that we will be monitoring the situation and will follow all CDC and Dane County Public Health recommendations at the time of the race. This may entail wearing masks at the start and finish of the race where participants will be most concentrated. Since the race is outdoors, we hope the affects of COVID-19 will be mitigated.

Check back here for updates as we get closer to the race.

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