Oh!

Ah, ooh!

Just kidding!

Welcome to the Steamboat Classic!

(bright upbeat music) A summertime staple in the 309, a tradition since 1974.

- This race is iconic.

It is one of the classic American road races.

It's been going on for 52 years, so I mean, obviously, it is part of the fabric and the DNA of Greater Peoria.

So to have the honor and privilege to be carrying the torch, to be the third race director here.

Steve Shostrom founded it, did it for 20 years.

Philip Lockwood, 30 years.

So now to be able to carry that baton for a little while, and try to, you know, support what's been done, a privilege and honor.

(crowd cheering) - Go Katelyn!

- Go Katelyn!

- Really fun race.

I enjoyed the course.

I liked that it was a low elevation.

The humidity was a little brutal, but other than that, great vibes, and enjoyed running it.

- [Blake] How many years have you run Steamboat?

How you feeling?

- This is my first one!

I know.

So I was so stoked.

And I'm feeling better than I was about a mile into it, so.

- It's just a really cool Peoria event that ties people together.

Kinda reminds you of there are other people out there working hard, you know, sometimes you're in the trenches by yourself.

And this really brings people together, and I think it creates a lot of pride for Peoria, as well.

- [Blake] Give me your thoughts on the race.

How'd it go?

- Whew, I mean, it was a beautiful race.

It was a lot of good energy, and I was physically dying the entire time.

Feel great that we ran it, but glad that it's over, as well.

- This is my third, and I was a lot slower than I figured, but that's okay.

I'm coming off vacation, so.

- This is one of my favorite races.

I've been coming here since 2015, except for one time, and I love it.

- Because of him, I knew about this race.

Like, he loves this race, and he's always encourages to come and run, so it was because of him that we came to Peoria.

- This is my first time doing Steamboat!

So I'm really excited.

I've been running off and on.

I'm like a mediocre runner.

So I enjoy that it's four miles, and then I just push myself really hard.

- Running out into that crowd just gives you a lot more energy, super fun to be able to do it with my son.

I ran the 15K back when I was 19 and 20 years old.

I'm turning 50 soon, and I did the four mile this time, and we'll see what next year brings.

- That's awesome.

Andrew, what's your favorite part about Steamboat?

How long you been running it?

- This is my second year, and my favorite part is just seeing the community, and what Adam's done with Running Central, and just thinking about every corner you turn, you see the firefighters, the police officers, the whole community that always has your back, whether you see them or not, but every corner, ever blacktop section is a reminder of what we have in this area.

- Today, it is powerful.

It's kind of emotional, and sparkly.

(laughing) - [Blake] Did you do a good job?

- I think so, I hope so.

I feel like I did a good job.

- [Blake] You're happy with it?

- I'm proud of it, yes.

- You're proud of it.

- So it's happening, I mean, we are bringing some serious BA talent right back to the streets of Peoria.

And it is lightning on the streets.

USATF 4 Mile Championships for men and women, and then we also have the USATF Championships for Masters, men and women, at the four mile distance.

So we said a couple years ago when we were gonna do this, we were gonna have Olympians here in Peoria once again, and it's already happened.

So the SC415, right?

So a health and wellness movement mobilizing Greater Peoria, right?

Steamboat Classic, SC, 4 mile, 15K.

So the Steamboat Classic happens one day a year, but the SC415, what we brought now, that goes on the other 364.

So we got an opportunity to celebrate, come together as a community, and prove our overall health and wellness as a collective whole, celebrate the entire time while doing it, and make ourselves and our community better and better.

- Hey man.

Thank you.

- Thank you.