Runners, walkers and fans of the #1 movie of all time, “The Shawshank Redemption,” will return for a second year for the Shawshank Hustle 7k on Saturday, June 11. Over 2,100 participates will begin and end at the Ohio State Reformatory. Now even locals and fans of runners can get in on the action!
What’s NEW this year for participants? The Shawshank Redemption movie will be shown at the Ohio State Reformatory on Friday evening and Saturday morning. There will be photo opportunities with the prison bus Tim Robbins rode in and the car he sat in at the beginning of the movie, both on display. There will even be autographs available from Jim Kisicki (Shawshank bank manager). This year, there is limited paid parking at the Ohio State Reformatory and then other participants will park FREE at the Richland County Fairgrounds with shuttle to and from the race site. All details are at www.ShawshankHustle.com.
“The Shawshank Hustle proved to be a great success last year, and we are excited that it is becoming an annual event,” said Jodie Snavely, Mansfield/Richland County CVB Group Tour/Media Director. “The Hustle opens up a great deal of opportunity for our local businesses, namely restaurants, hotels, and local shops. We would love nothing more than to have visitors come back with family and friends to explore The Shawshank Trail and the rest of our attractions, recreation, and tourism options.”
Not running? You can get involved by cheering for the racers on streets along the route! Get loud with a souvenir cow bell as you cheer on participants as they pass! You can pick up your cow bell at the Mansfield/Richland County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Monday-Friday, 9-5 before June 10.
The race route will take participants by the movie’s other filming sites along Main St. including the Bissman Building, which was the Brewer Hotel and Portland Daily Bugle in the movie; Carrousel Antiques where Red (Morgan Freeman) looked in one of their windows at the compass that would help him find the oak tree; and Brooks’ bench in Mansfield’s Central Park where James Whitmore sat to feed the pigeons.
Along with a custom event shirt, registration includes a finisher medal, free admission into the Reformatory, free ride on the Carrousel as well as brats/hot dogs for purchase, actor autographs from Scott Mann and Jim Kisicki, and the After Party at the Phoenix Brewing Company.
CVB staff and volunteers will have an information table inside the registration tent handing out Visitor Guides, Shawshank Trail brochures, maps of the downtown area and answering questions for participants and visitors.