“I was super honored,” said honorary race chair Sarah Morrison. “They just reached out to me because they had noticed that I’ve been a part of the race for quite a while, running in it myself, training people to run in it, and then last year my whole family did it.”

Last year, she ran the half marathon, and her husband Chris Morrison ran the 1-mile race with their children Odessa, 6, and Oz, 5.

“I just know that they had said, ‘We appreciate how much you support this event, we’d love for you to be the honorary chair,'” said Sarah Morrison, who works as communications director, physical trainer and group fitness instructor at Bay Athletic Club, located inside MidMichigan Health Center-Alpena.

She has been involved with the race for many years.

Above, the Morrisons are honorary race chairs for the 2019 Aliferis Memorial Race, set for Saturday in Alpena. Clockwise from top left are Sarah Morrison, Chris Morrison, and their children Oz and Odessa.

“I’ve ran the 5K a few times, I’ve trained a group when I was really pregnant and I couldn’t run, and I’ve done the half twice now,” she said.

She loves the new course for the half marathon. She said the bus leaves the hospital at 6 a.m. and takes them out to the country near Bolton Road, then they run back into town to finish at the hospital.

“Last year I loved it because they changed it to be on the Rails-to-Trails,” she said. “So the course was really gorgeous, and I’ve ran a lot of half marathons, and I love this course better than most of them.”

On Saturday, she will be doing the half marathon again, and her husband will run the 5K. They are both personal trainers, and promote health and fitness in the community. They recently completed a triathalon together. Chris Morrison is a paramedic/firefighter for the City of Alpena.

She said the race organizers approached them because they promote fitness not only for adults, but for whole families, getting their own children involved in the fitness fun.

Odessa, now in first grade, and Oz, who just started kindergarten, are very excited about the event. They will be running the 1-mile race again this year.

“They think it’s the coolest thing ever that they’re a part of the honorary chairs,” she noted. “They saw their picture up on the hospital billboard, and Odessa was like, ‘It makes me so proud.’ It was the cutest.”

About the Aliferis Race

On Saturday, a half marathon, 5K, 1-mile and bike races are set in Alpena.

A bus will leave MidMichigan Health Center-Alpena at 6 a.m. to take those running the half marathon out ot the starting point in the country near Bolton Road. The half marathon starts at 7 a.m., which is the same time registration opens at the hospital tent on the corner of Johnson Street and U.S.-23.

At 8 a.m., the 18.5-mile bike race and 6.5-mile bike tour begin from the hospital.

At 9 a.m. is the 1-mile run/walk, followed by the 5K starting at 9:30 a.m.

For more information about the race, visit www.midmichigan.org/about/donations/events/aliferisrace/.

The race is sponsored by the Development Council of the MidMichigan Health Foundation serving Alpena. Call Ann Diamond at 989-356-7738.

About Peter Aliferis

The Aliferis Memorial Race is named in memory of long-time Alpena Pathologist Peter Aliferis, M.D.

“Dr. Aliferis earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan and joined the hospital in 1963, serving for many years as the pathologies and laboratory director. He touched the lives of many in our community during his 37-year tenure. This race is a celebration of his steadfast dedication to health and wellness,” the race website states.

All proceeds will benefit the Peter Aliferis Scholarship Fund, the Cancer Center and patient enhancement projects and new technology at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena.