Mark your calendars for the 43rd Annual Freeze for Food!
Saturday, March 2, 2024
2023 RACE RESULTS FROM ItsRaceTime ARE AVAILABLE BELOW
Ready to do something proactive about immigration due to conflict or climate change? Join the Freeze for Food 5K/10K, sponsored by the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison. We raise funds to support food security programs of Madison's Open Doors for Refugees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to welcoming refugees to the Madison area and supporting their resettlement.
SUPPORT MADISON'S REFUGEES
The Afghan refugees who recently fled their country for the safety of the U.S. have now been resettled in towns and cities across the country. As of spring 2022, more than 37 individuals have arrived in Madison with more to follow. They joined the ranks of many other refugees here, mostly coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries, or from Syria and Iraq over the several years before that. As millions flee their war-torn country. the first Ukrainian families are settling in the area. When they arrive in Madison, one difficult journey ends, but another begins. Parents need to make a living while whole families struggle to learn a new language and new customs. Most household heads hold low-paying jobs as front line workers. In their first years, families often struggle to buy food and pay rent and other bills. All miss family members left behind and worry about their ongoing dangers.
Your registration fee and donations 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. Feel confident knowing that all proceeds from Freeze for Food will be used for food security and relief efforts for incoming families.
SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY WITH A FOOD BANK DONATION
In addition to the exciting race, we'll also be hosting a food drive for the Goodman Community Center Fritz Food Pantry. On race day, kindly bring your non-perishable food donations to the Vilas Park Shelter, where we'll have collection bins ready to receive your generous contributions. Our runners have consistently demonstrated their commitment to food security initiatives, and we sincerely appreciate your unwavering support..
RUNNERS CHOICE
Our race is never canceled due to weather or pandemic. Participants can choose to run/walk in person on March 2nd at Vilas Park along Lake Wingra or choose the virtual option and run/walk at their preferred location anywhere in the world. Due to the generosity of our sponsors, your donation will be a 100% pass-through to Open Doors for Refugees. This year the Donate button will have a funds thermometer that shows our goal to exceed our 2023 all-time high in race donations and registrations by 18%.
REGISTRATION DETAILS
Register online with RunSignUp anytime until raceday on March 2nd, no later than 11:30am. Late arrivals may not be able to register.
We are again offering a special group discount if you sign up for three people at a time.
Rate Category
(In Person or Virtual)Early Bird
Before 2/19/2024After 2/20/2024 Per Runner | 5K OR 10K
$20 $30 Per Runner | 5K AND 10K
$30 $40 Group of 3
$50 $75 Student age 18-24 $15 $15 Student age 6-17 $10 $10 Kids <6 years run free (w/adult) $0 $0 AGE AND GENDER CATEGORIES: Male, Female and Non-Binary categories 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+
WHAT'S IN THE BAG? In the spirit of going green, we do not offer a race bag. We hope you consider your participation in an event on a chilly day for a great cause your most valued award!
Your racer bib will be available in advance on Friday, March 1st at Movin' Shoes, 528 S. Park St., Madison WI from 2pm to 5:30pm, or on race day at Vilas Park. All registrants may pickup 2024 International Calendar and other sponsor information at Movin' Shoes on Friday, or Vilas Park on raceday.
VIRTUAL RACE OPTION: If you opt to do a virtual run and are not In the Madison area, we will mail the calendar to you upon request. Contact us at freeze@rpcvmadison.org.
RACE RESULTS: 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 distance and time (link TBD) by end of day on Sunday, March 3, 2024 so we can close the race results and send a final report. 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
WHERE DO I PARK?
- You should see the race Start/Finish canopies in front of the ice skating rink and warming house.
- You can ONLY approach from the east (behind St. Mary's Hospital), as the west side of Vilas Park Drive is blocked off while the City continues to consider new landscaping plans.
- You may drive from the east along Vilas Park Drive, all the way to the parking lot at the warming house, but parking there is limited. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time to find parking in one of the pocket spots or in the surrounding neighborhood, then walk to the shelter, check in, and ready yourself for the race start time.
- Parking is limited to 2 hours along Vilas Park Drive, but we will have City of Madison permission slips to park for 3 hours. This should be plenty of time, even for a 5K and 10K combined race...unless you run the 5K and walk the 10K! (Volunteers will have extra hours of permission.)
BETTER YET - BUS, BIKE OR WALK TO THE RACE!
WHERE IS THE RACE?
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.
Download and print a copy of enhanced 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.
If you can help with the many tasks to make this a success, send an email to freeze [at] rpcvmadison.org.
2023 SPONSORS
Generous support by our sponsors (2023 sponsors below) means that 100% of registration fees goes to Open Doors for Refugees. If you'd like to be a sponsor in 2024 and see your name on this list, send an email to freeze (AT) rpcvmadison.org.
Fleet Feet ($500+)
Swift Feet ($300+)
Happy Feet ($200+)
Friendly Feet ($100+)
- Karl's Family Dental
- Monroe Street Family Dental
- State Farm Insurance
- Still I Run
- United Nations Association of Dane County
- 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 (community 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.
- 2023: Tricia Blanco (ODFR and RPCV Honduras 1982-1984), Jessica Collins (ODFR), Julet Frazier (community volunteer), Erica Hoyt (ODFR), Matt Munns (ODFR), Kate Schachter(RPCV Ghana 2004-2007, Georgia 2016-2017), and Kathleen Wannemuehler (RPCV Kenya 1994-1996) built on our team experience from 2022 to surpass records, both number of runner registrations and total dollars donated.
- 2024: Tricia Blanco, Julet Frazier, Cassie Rademaekers, Kate Schachter, Kathleen Wannemuehler and Madeline Uraneck are back as the "old-timers" on the planning team. ODFR was also very generous in helping us find additional core planners: Kyle Studnicka-Pineda, Stephanie Taylor, Lily Varilla, Carol Wilson and Casey Wong.
Race Details
Year Runners Expenses $$$ Donated Race time weather 2023-Mar 4 404 $3,679 $16,840 45⁰F and cloudy during 5k; 10K with temps in the mid-30s, brisk wind with wintry mix; recent snow but clear pavement; 2022-Mar 5 361 $3,693 $14,577 44⁰F; sun during 5K; 10K with driving rain and rainbow; clear pavement 2021-Mar
6-7127 $1,471 $10,243 43⁰F; winds gusty S 17-26 mph, no snow or rain; partly sunny; all virtual over 2 days 2020-Mar 7 252 $4,394 $6,900 50⁰F, winds gusty S 10-20 mph, no snow or rain, partly sunny, clear pavement (warmest Freeze) 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 (coldest Freeze) 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 (202): $43,270+ $144,244
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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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