It just keeps growing and growing and growing. The Brownville Freedom Run has gone from a “fun run” just a few short years ago with 30 or 40 runners to one of the premier summer running (and walking) events in the Midwest.

As the beginning of a day long old fashioned Fourth of July in Brownville called The Freedom Celebration, the Run brought between 300 and 400 extra people to the small Nebraska village.  
Runners and walkers, along with their friends and families gathered just west of the swollen Missouri River on July 3 at the crack of dawn to run or walk 3.1 miles, 6.2 miles or 13.1 miles. Starting at the old gas station along Highway 136, the more than 250 participants could compete along the county road from Brownville to the Cooper Nuclear Station. Half Marathoners ran to Nemaha then south past the Little Nemaha River and returned to Brownville and the finish line. The day was comfortable for the 7 a.m. start, but promised to get hot.  
On hand were almost 30 volunteers to help make the Run progress smoothly. Those volunteers make the Freedom Run what is has become.  Two hundred and eighty participants needed to be registered, either in advance on-line or in person on race day.  After eight years, JoAnn Dunn has registrations down pat. Several helpers got race packets to the runners in time for the start. There were timers, people handing out snacks, water table monitors, and very valuable medical personnel to keep an eye on the runners’ health and well being. There were two ambulances and around ten EMTs and first responders watching and treating those who might fall victim to the heat.

Snacks and Liquids Served
During and after the Freedom Run, racers consumed more than 850 bottles of water, 260 bottles of gatorade, about 500 muffins, oreo cookies and Rice Krispie treats and several cases of bananas. All this to replenish carbohydrates and rehydrate hot and hungry runners/walkers.
Those who took part came to Brownville from 16 states and a group from Italy.  The Canadian runner who registered did not make it to the Run.  As the number of runners increases, the quality increases as well. The times for the events would match up with any similar event in the country. The Brownville Freedom Run is not only a good, safe event, it is making a name for itself in the running world.
Individual Run Results  
The women’s 5 kilometer run was won by Sandy Catlin of Salem, Nebraska with a time of 22:57. The men’s 5K was dominated by a couple of local youngsters, Nick Meyer (19:01) and Matt Heskett (19:43), followed closely by 51-year-old Brian Harrifield of Lincoln.  
The women’s 10K record was smashed by Rhgnqi Orme of Lincoln with a time of 44:50. The men’s winner at 10K was 50-year-old Terry Seiter of St. Joseph, Missouri coming in at 38:30. This is a time placing him in the elite of the 50-year-old age group in the nation.
The female half marathon winner from Mankato, Minnesota with a very respectable time of 1:37:01 was Heather Camp. She was closely followed by Karen Douglas of Bennington, Nebraska. The men’s half marathon turned out to be a race pitting two very good runners who have battled in half marathons in the past.  Iowans Jon Estabrook (Ankeny) and Ben Fish (Iowa City) placed one-two in 1:15:58 and 1:18:15.  Fish was last year’s winner and was running for the third time in Brownville. Both in the 30-39 age grouping, Estabrook and Fish regularly win events in Iowa.