After a one-year hiatus, 17 years of history returns when the Veterans Memorial Road Race resumes May 27.

&uot;It was a long-running tradition,&uot; McCown said. &uot;It brought a lot of people from out-of-town.&uot;

The five-mile foot race was hosted for 17 years until 2001 when funding problems caused the race to be canceled. The 2002 race is five kilometers, which is 3.1 miles.

&uot;Since River Valley Hospital shut down, the race has been dead,&uot; Race Director Kevin McCown, said. &uot;We are trying to revive it.&uot;

&uot;We have a good thing going,&uot; he said. &uot;On Memorial Day, there are more people in Ironton than any other time of the year.&uot;

Entry applications are available at Bob Linn Sporting Goods, the YMCA in Ashland and Huntington and in Sunday editions of The Ironton Tribune.

Preregistration is $10 before May 24 and $15 afterwards and on race day.

Race-day registration is between 7 and 7:30 a.m..

The race will start and finish at the Liebert Corp. located at 3040 S. 9th St.

There are 11 different age divisions for both males and females. Awards will be given for the top three male and female finishers in each age category. Awards will also be given to the top three finishers overall, both male and female.

In past years, approximately 100 to 150 people ran in the races, McCown said.

&uot;Hopefully, we can re-build it and get a decent turnout,&uot; he said.

Proceeds from the race go to the Ironton Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade Committee and will fund awards for the parade float contests and other expenses.

Local sponsors have made many contributions.

&uot;The sponsors have been great,&uot; McCown said. &uot;We

have lots of door prizes from sponsors like Unger’s Shoe Store, Bob Linn Sporting Goods and C.R. Thomas’ Old Place.&uot;

Other sponsors include Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. and Ironton Physical Therapy.

&uot;Pepsi supplied door prizes, banners and products like Allsport,&uot; Ronda Sturgill, business, industry and education sales representative for Pepsi-Cola, said.

&uot;It is very important to Pepsi to be involved in community events, especially with groups.&uot; Michael Caldwell/The Ironton Tribune