First-ever Memorial Day Manitou Monster 12k Run & 5K Run/Walk brings 63 participants

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM

By Shelby Lopez

The Rochester Rotary Club sponsored a Manitou Monster 12k Run & 5K Run/Walk kicked off in the morning outside of the Rochester Moose Lodge #1107, on Memorial Day, May 26.

"This is something that we're hoping to make an annual thing," said Rochester Rotary Club President Sheena Bitterling about the event that brought around 63 runners participating in the event.

The Rotary Club is also sponsoring the 5k run during the Chili Cook-Off in October. The Memorial Day Manitou Monster 12k Run & 5K Run/Walk gave awards to six divisions, that included male and female runners and walkers. Trophies were handed out to the first, second and third place finishers from each division and medals were given to age group winners.

The idea for a Memorial Day run/walk was brought to the table by Darin Beeker, owner of Zimmerman Brothers Funeral Home, who hoped to create an event that would bring community members and families together in a healthy way.

"We used to do the Roundbarn 5KRun Race, but when the festival went under our 5K went under too. We took over the Chili Cook-Off 5K Run from United Way and still do that every year during the second weekend of October. We thought another event would be good for Rochester. We also wanted to do something different with the 12k, instead of the typical 10k or 15k.," Beeker said.

Beeker also created the route for Monday's event, which started at the Moose Lodge and continued down Westside Dr to the Nickel Plate Trail. Runners were further protected on the route thanks to members from Fulton County EMA, who helped manage traffic around the route during the event.

Pictured above, Alex Gudeman walks off with his 12k first place trophy after the Manitou Monster 12k Run & 5K Run/Walk Monday.

Winners for the 12k Run's male division were Alex Gudeman, first place; Kirk Robinson, second place; and Bob Mills, third place. The 12k run's women division winners were Jody Brown and her dog Zoom, first place; Susan Pyeatt, second place; and Autumn Carrell, third place.

Winners for the 5k Run's male division was Warner DuBois, first place; Michael Miser, second place; and Brian Van Soest, third place. The 5k run's women division winners were Vivian Miller, first place; , Vanessa Miller second place; and Kayla Gibbons, third place.