Freeze For Food
The 39th Freeze for Food is confirmed for Saturday, March 7, 2020.
On the spot race times provided by ItsRaceTime!
Our race is never canceled due to weather.
Join the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison in celebration of Peace Corps Week for our 39th annual Freeze for Food. Run or walk to raise funds to support programs of Madison’s Open Doors for Refugees. Open Doors for Refugees is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the resettlement of refugees in the Madison area and welcoming them into the community. All proceeds from Freeze for Food will be used for relief efforts for incoming refugees.
Help us promote the race. Download the 2020 Race Brochure. To post the information at your workplace or special spots, print only Page One.
Registration: Register online by March 5, 2020 at 2:30 pm in order to pickup your runner bib and bag at Movin' Shoes on Friday, March 6! On-site registration on March 7 also available if you decide to wait out the weather.
We offer a special student rate for <21 years of age.**
Race Early Bird Online
Before 2/17/20Eff. 2/18/20 **Student Rate Race Day Reg
Time
Race Start Time FunRun $0 $0 $0 10:30-11:00 11:00 5K $20 $30 $10 11:00-11:45 12:00 10K $20 $30 $10 12:00-12:45 1:00 5K + 10K $30 $40 $10 11:00-11:45 **REMEMBER: Overall registration is limited to 320 participants and student rate is limited to 50 participants.
Register online with Its Race Time anytime, including the day of the race.
All registrants receive a free 2020 International Calendar.
AWARD AGE CATEGORIES: Male and Female categories <20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
and top Male and Female Overall
We rely on many volunteers, like Tamara England, Joy Amessoudji and Amy Amessoudji, pictured here in 2018.
The 2020 race committee consists of Lauren Troxtel, Kate Schachter, Madeline Uraneck, Tom Felhofer and Joyce Muxfeld. If you can help with many different tasks both before and on race day, access the Volunteer Signup form and select a task or three. If you would like to be part of the 2020 race committee, contact the Race Director.
SPONSORS
We rely on our sponsors to provide chip timing services and access to running shirts. Their support allows all of your registration fee to go to Open Doors for Refugees. Thank you to our 2020 sponsors! If you'd like to be a sponsor, contact the Race Director.
Fleet Feet level ($400+)
- Movin’ Shoes
- Smart Motors
- UW-Madison International Division
Swift Feet level ($200+)
- Capital Insurance
- Dental Health Associates
- Felhofer CPA SC
- Karls Family Dentistry
- Old National Bank
- Waunakee Veterinary Clinic
- Willy Street Co-op
Happy Feet level ($100+)
- Anonymous x 3
- Panera
Friendly Feet (<$100)
- Festival Foods
- Just Coffee
THE RACE COURSE
Both races start and end at the Vilas Park Shelter, 1602 Vilas Park Dr., Madison, WI 53715
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 and passes through the Arboretum.
Questions:
Contact the Race Director.
Stay up to date on details by Friending us on our Freeze Facebook page.
History
Recent Years Runner Placement |
Past Years Results |
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.
- 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.
Race Details
| Year | Runners | Expenses | $$$ Donated | Race time weather |
| 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 (2018): | $29,959+ | $95,472 | ||
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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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