Run With Carl: Event celebrates life of Q-C teen
Bettendorf Rotary Run With Carl is a Labor Day tradition that celebrates the memory of Carl Schillig, a young man with a passion for running and history.
This year marks the 13th anniversary of the event, which features a half-mile and 1-mile Fun Run, and a 5-mile run and 5K run/walk course.
The event “has grown into something special for the community,” said Carey Schillig, Carl’s sister. “It’s just nice to bring the community together to remember my brother and to see everyone working so hard to remember a special person.”
Carl died in 1994 after a vehicle-pedestrian accident in the Village of East Davenport. The loss left his family shattered and wanting to find some way to honor Carl’s life and interests. The first Run with Carl was held in 1995, and the proceeds fund scholarships in his honor.
“I was a sophomore when he died. He was a freshman,” she said.
Being able to put photos and mementos together for the race helped. The Run with Carl T-shirts always were something her family loved to design because there’s always a little emblem that is a reminder of Carl, she said.
The race’s logo is a leaf with a runner in the middle.
“In my family that means life, embracing life,” she said.
Carl’s parents, Dick and Juanita Schillig of Bettendorf, are the run directors, and in the early days that meant lots of hands-on work.
Today, a dedicated force of volunteers help with details from doing public relations and assisting with registration, to setting up and the 1-mile practice runs at Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley elementary schools.
“We’ve got good registration, and we’re optimistic it will be good (weather) for Monday,” Dick Schillig said.
The practice runs bring more participation from parents and grandparents. The new half-mile fun run is geared toward smaller children who cannot quite manage a full mile.
Carey Schillig, who lives in Iowa City, will take on whatever tasks need doing once she arrives. In the early days of the race, she helped hang banners.
“Last year I got to fire off the starter gun and that was fun,” she said.
Race details
What: Bettendorf Rotary Run With Carl
When: Monday
Where: Start and finish at Life Fitness Center, 2222 Middle Road, Bettendorf
Events: 7:30 a.m., half-mile and 1-mile fun run; 8:15 a.m., 5-mile run; and 8:30 a.m., 5K run/walk
To register: Online at runwithcarl.com through 4 p.m. Sunday or during packet pickup from 3-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bettendorf Fareway parking lot, 3800 Belmont Road
The city desk can be contacted at
(563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
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