Save The Date
The 41st Annual Freeze for Food: Saturday, March 5, 2022
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
RACE RESULTS ARE AVAILABLE AT ItsRaceTime
Tired of feeling cooped up inside your homes for most of the winter? Ready to do something proactive about immigration due to conflict or climate change? Join the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison NEXT YEAR to help raise funds to support food security programs of Madison's Open Doors for Refugees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the resettlement of refugees in the Madison area and welcoming them into the community.
SUPPORT MADISON'S REFUGEES
The Afghan refugees who recently fled their country for the safety of the U.S. are slowly being resettled in towns and cities across the country. At the time of this writing, in the two months since the fall of Kabul, 37 have arrived in Madison with more to follow. They join the ranks of many other refugees here, mostly coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries over the last few years, or from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan over the several years before that. New needs may come from Ukraine, as millions flee their war-torn country. For all, when they get to Madison, one leg of their difficult journey ends, but another just begins. They need to make a living while they learn a new language and new customs. They miss families they left and worry about their ongoing dangers. In this pandemic period, as new arrivals, many have low-paying jobs as front line workers. Some have lost jobs, and some entire families have contracted COVID-19. They often struggle to buy food and pay rent and other bills. Your registration fee and donations can help over 100 families feel more welcome and supported in a new city. Be part of Madison's safety net while you run or walk and enjoy Wisconsin's beautiful outdoors. All proceeds from Freeze for Food will be used for food security and relief efforts for incoming refugees.
RUNNER'S CHOICE
Our race is never canceled due to weather or pandemic, as we pivot again to respond to your support for this popular fundraiser! For the 41st year we will be raising funds for food security projects! Last year's all-virtual event had overwhelming support in the form of donations on top of registrations, all of which went to Open Doors for Refugees due to the generosity of our sponsors who cover the expenses. Therefore, we are again offering a Runner's Choice. Participants can choose to run/walk in person on March 5th at Vilas Park along Lake Wingra or choose the virtual option and run/walk at their preferred location.
REGISTRATION
Then register online with Its Race Time anytime until raceday on March 5 at 11:30 a.m. Student rate is limited to 50 participants. Virtual registration is unlimited.
We are offering a special group discount if you sign up for three people at a time.
Rate Category Early Bird
Before 2/21/2022After 2/21/2022
at 11:59 p.m.Per Runner | 5K OR 10K
$20 $30 Per Runner | 5K AND 10K
$30 $40 Group of 3
$50 $75 Student Rate $10 $10 Kids <6 years run free $0 $0
WHAT'S IN THE BAG? All registrants receive an 2022 International Calendar, a stylin' buff in the color of your choice (supplies limited), and other sponsor information. Your racer bag will be available to pick up on Friday, March 4 at Movin' Shoes, 528 S. Park St., Madison WI from 2pm to 5:30pm, or on race day at Vilas Park. If you opt to do a virtual run and are not In the Madison area, we can mail it to you.
AGE AND GENDER CATEGORIES: Male, Female and Non-Binary categories 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
RACE RESULTS AND AWARDS: The in-person race is chip-timed by ItsRaceTime and race results are immediately provided as you cross the finish line. Virtual racers must self-report their results and should be sure to log their distance and time (link TBP) by end of day on Sunday, March 6, 2022 so we can close the race results and send a final report. This year we also introduced a non-binary gender option. For all these reasons, we are temporarily suspending awards, though we've come up with creative ways to thank everyone for your participation. We hope you consider your participation in an event on a chilly day for a great cause your most valued award!
THE IN-PERSON RACE ROUTE DETAILS
Both races (5K and 10K) start and end at the Vilas Park Shelter, 1602 Vilas Park Dr., Madison, WI 53715
5K Race Start time: 12 p.m. CST sharp
10K Race Start time: 1 p.m. CST sharp
The 5K race is held in the scenic Vilas Park roads and sidewalks and other nearby roads at the northern part of Lake Wingra.
The 10K race circles Lake Wingra, passing through the Arboretum.
Print a copy of these maps here. There will also be one in your registration bag.
VOLUNTEER!
We rely on many volunteers, like Tamara England, Joy Amessoudji and Amy Amessoudji, pictured here in 2018.
The 2022 race committee consists of Tricia Blanco, Jessica Collins, Julet Frazier, Cassie Rademaekers, Kate Schachter, and Kathleen Wannemuehler. If you can help with many different tasks both before and on race day, send an email to freeze [at] rpcvmadison.org.
SPONSORS
Generous support by our sponsors means that 100% of registration fees goes to Open Doors for Refugees. If you'd like to be a sponsor and see your name on the list, send an email to freeze (AT) rpcvmadison.org.
Fleet Feet level ($500+)
Swift Feet level ($300+)
Happy Feet level ($200+)
Friendly Feet ($100+)
- Anonymous x many
Your donation in any amount is a 100% pass through to Open Doors for Refugees.
History
Recent Years Runner Placement
Past Years Reports
A Short History of the Freeze
The Freeze for Food has been a labor of love for the RPCVs of Madison. Through the years it has been passed on from member to member to manage as a fundraiser for food security projects. After the International Calendar began making a profit (around 1992), a certain amount from calendar sales has been allocated to supporting the expenses of the Freeze – currently at the rate of $2,000 per race. Following is a short history of the event’s managers and fund beneficiaries. Of course, many RPCVs (whether group members or not) and friends have played a huge role on race day to help with the details, usually around 30 people getting together to enjoy a crisp winter day.
- 1982: Wade DallaGrana (RPCV Lesotho 1976-1978) started the Freeze for Food. The group was raising money for Oxfam, and Wade was a runner; he put 2 and 2 together, and started the fundraiser. Wade’s last race was 1990.
- 1990: Deb Stapleton (RPCV Honduras 1985-1987) managed the Freeze for the next four years.
- 1994: Dave Hamilton (RPCV Honduras 1985-1987) took over for another 4 years through 1998.
- 1999: Peter Joyce (RPCV Guatemala 1981-1984) and Rick Lackey (RPCV Micronesia 1982-1984) took it up. Peter noticed the burnout working with Oxfam and that as a global organization, Oxfam really did not know what we were doing. He proposed to the Board that we work with a local group instead of Oxfam, thinking that they would have a better connection, and could provide us with people on race day. Someone stated that we should work with one of the Madison Sister City projects. We asked all 6 or 7 groups to make us a one page proposal. Only two groups responded: Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) and Colombia Support Network (CSN). CSN’s was the better of the two.
- 2011: Kate Schachter (RPCV Ghana 2004-2007) agreed to manage the Freeze, not wanting to see it fade away when Peter and Rick decided it was time to step aside. However, she wanted CSN to help with the planning, not just on the day of the event. Jack Laun (co-Director of CSN and RPCV Panama 1967-1969) agreed to co-chair the planning. Other RPCV and CSN members were also brought into the planning team.
- 2016: Stephanie Shelton (RPCV Tonga 2012-2014) and Tom Felhofer (RPCV Malawi 1988-1990), both committed Freeze volunteers and runners for several years, agreed to co-chair with CSN. A switch was made to a chip timing company, which made a big difference in expenses, but also in donated profits.
- 2017: Because of the increase in the refugee crisis in Syria, as well as other countries worldwide, Steph and Tom presented an alternate beneficiary of the Freeze funds to the Board. Open Doors for Refugees, formed in Madison, was selected. Madeline Uraneck (RPCV Lesotho 2004-2009) from Open Doors liases on the race details.
- 2018: Kate returned from Peace Corps service in Georgia, and rejoined the organizing team with Tom, Steph and Madeline.
- 2019: Lauren Troxtel (RPCV Ethiopia 2012-2014) stepped forward to be the Race Director. Kate and Madeline remain on the team, Tom and Steph are backing up while slowly backing out, and as always we work with a lot of volunteers.
- 2020: Lauren, Tom, and Kate remain on the team. Madeline and Joyce Muxfeld (Open Doors for Refugees member) represent Open Doors support in producing the event. The event was held two weeks before the pandemic shutdown all in-person events.
- 2021:Tom Felhofer, Ashley Gries (RPCV Panama 2008-2010), Joyce Muxfeld, Cassie Rademaekers (RPCV Nepal 1983-1985), Kate Schachter, Madeline Uraneck, and Kathleen Wannemuehler (RPCV Kenya 1994-1996) create a team from both the RPCV Madison and Open Doors organizations. Forty years of the Freeze for Food and a pandemic have made us get creative about how to run a safe race. It is Runner's Choice over the course of two days!
- 2022: Tricia Blanco (ODFR and RPCV Honduras 1982-1984), Jessica Collins (ODFR), Julet Frazier (volunteer), Cassie Rademaekers(RPCV Nepal 1983-1985), Kate Schachter(RPCV Ghana 2004-2007, Georgia 2016-2017), and Kathleen Wannemuehler (RPCV Kenya 1994-1996) are this year's team, planning another new way of running the event as a Runner's Choice: in-person or virtual from anywhere in the world to suit runner's preferences. We found that the generosity of the running community, combined with current world events around refugees and immigrants, means that we all care deeply about good community citizenship and support.
Race Details
Year Runners Expenses $$$ Donated Race time weather 2021-Mar 6-7 127 $1,471 $10,243 43⁰F; winds gusty S 17-26 mph, no snow or rain; partly sunny; all virtual 2020-Mar 7 252 $4,394 $6,900 50⁰F, winds gusty S 10-20 mph, no snow or rain, partly sunny, clear pavement 2019-Mar 2 185 $3,073 $5,800 24⁰F; winds NNW 1-6 mph, no snow or rain; cloudy; snow/ice pavement 2018-Mar 3 174 $4,241 $5,533 42⁰F; winds SE 12-15 mph, no snow or rain; sunny; clear pavement 2017-Mar 4 273 $3,233 $6,138 36⁰F; winds ESE 18 mph, no snow or rain; partly sunny; clear pavement 2016-Jan 23 282 $3,012 $5,600 31⁰F; winds SW 10-11mph with a 17mph gust during the 10K, no snow or rain; clear pavement 2015-Jan 17 200 $1,634 $3,776 40⁰F; winds SW 9-10mph with 21mph gusts; light drizzle during 10K; clear pavement 2014-Jan 18 143 $1,176 $2,588 17°F; 10 mph winds; snow flurries during 5K; cleared snow on most of the run, except up the Edgewood College hill 2013-Jan 23 183 $580 $3,096 43°F; 20 mph winds, with strong headwind on last section of 10K; mostly sunny; no ice 2012-Jan 21 110 $994 $2,061 12°F; 0-2 mph winds; sunny; 3“ of snow the day before was well plowed before race time; footing was slippery, but consistent; no ice 2011-Jan 22 137 $1,063 $2,659 12°F; windy; 1“ new snow 2010-Jan 23 205 $907 $3,439 35°F; all pavement, no ice/snow 2009-Jan 24 117 $820 $2,378 5°F; no wind, hard snow on pavement 2008-Jan ? 83 $551 $2,085 0°F; 20 mph wind, icy, frigid cold 2007-Jan ? 160 $382 $2,795 25°F; no snow on pavement 2006-Jan ? 180 $770 $3,443 32°F; 3 inches fresh snow, sunny 2005-Jan ? 70 $688 $1,474 10°;F; v windy, 10 inches fresh snow 2004-Jan 75 $668 $2,574 20°F; 2 inches fresh snow, patches of ice 2003-Jan 25 129 $700 $2,824 20°F; windy 2002-Jan 26 200 ? $3,300 50°F; warmest FFF 2001-Jan 20 167 $500 $3,338 20°F; sunny, no snow; classic freeze 2000-Jan 22 120 $628 $2,901 25°F; cloudy; snow on ground 1999-Jan 23 ? $734 $2,200 33°F; cloudy; rainy 1998-Jan 24 ? ? $3,544 26°F; mostly cloudy; 0.06″ snow; SW winds 7mph 1997-Jan 25 ? ? $3,000 1⁰F; sunny; no snow; NW winds 5mph 1996-Jan 27 ? ? $2,400 9⁰F; mostly cloudy; no snow; SE winds 6mph 1995-Jan 28 ? $575 $2,773 24⁰F; mostly cloudy; 0.01″ snow; NW winds 15mph 1994-Jan 29 40 $350 $815 26⁰F; cloudy; no snow; SE winds 12mph 1993-Jan 23 ? $366 $865 26⁰F; cloudy; 0.02″ snow; SW winds 13mph 1992-Jan ? 56 $300 $831 5⁰F; sunny; no snow; NW winds 15mph 1991-Jan ? 108 $300 $1,474 40⁰F; mostly cloudy; no snow; SW winds 17mph 1990-Jan 27 106 $275 $1,205 31⁰F; cloudy; 0.05″ snow; NE winds 15mph 1989-Jan 28 81 $256 $1,076 31⁰F; sunny; no snow; SW winds 22mph 1988-Jan 23 98 $291 $1,621 11⁰F; cloudy; 0.03″ snow; S winds 5mph 1987-Jan ? 78 $246 $1,300 25⁰F; cloudy; no snow; little wind 1986-Jan 11 80 $204 $920 40⁰F; cloudy; no snow; SW winds 16mph 1985-Jan 12 110 $196 $2,042 -9⁰F; sunny; no snow; NW winds 21mph 1984-Jan 14 89 $145 $839 1⁰F; cloudy; no snow; S winds 17mph 1983-Jan 15 106 $105 $622 32⁰F; cloudy; 0.08″ snow; NE winds 12mph 1982-Jan 23 45 $70 $335 7⁰F; wind chill -45⁰F; mostly sunny; 0.12″ snow TOTAL TO-DATE (2021): $35,825+ $112,615
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Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin-Madison is a public charity registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. Its EIN is 39-1669348. It is also an affiliate group of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).
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