Aggieville’s popular Fill the ‘Ville with Green Road Race enjoyed a record setting 1,500 participants Saturday morning, despite the bitter cold wind. It’s Manhattan’s oldest running event, and a home-town man crossed the finish line at 32 minutes 14 seconds, winning the 10K. Joe Moore says he moved away for awhile but again lives in the area.
Moore says he’s run in the Saint Patty’s Day race about 25 times and has won the race five or six of those years. He ran with his parents as a child and says he’s participated in the Aggieville race since he was about three years old. He says the cold wind didn’t discourage him.
One of the area’s oldest residents, 92 year old Marvin Hachmeister ran Saturday’s race for the 45th consecutive year. Although he says this was the first time he ran the two-mile race.
Race officials again assigned Hachmeister his age as his runner registration number to match, although he says he feels like he’s only 80 years old. Hachmeister was surrounded by friends and was all smiles despite the 8 degree wind chill. He appreciates the encouragement and invites everyone to run with him.
Hachmeister says the socialization is his favorite part of the Aggieville event. He plans to continue to race and socialize for many years to come.
