Age group winners from the Flotilla Road Race pose for a photo after the race. Front row from left: Jenny Isenbarger – grand master 8-mile, Amy Kuhn – master 8-mile, Whitney Anderson 3.3-mile overall, Graciela Mejia 8-mile senior master and Francisco Hernandez 8-mile grand master
Back row from left, Joshua Urban overall 8-mile, Kristina Schindler overall 8-mile, FG Garcia master 8-mile, Brian Shepherd master 3.3-mile with his grandchildren Evander and Milo. Photo by Nathan Pace.

The Flotilla Road Race made its 47th edition through Syracuse Thursday, July 4, with close to 500 people participating. Brian Shepherd serves as race director for the race and said 2024’s running is up near the most ever despite humid conditions.

“This was by far the second most that we’ve had. It was hot but people came out,” Shepherd said.

Shepherd said the record number for the race is closer to 600 in a year where weather canceled other road races the surrounding area.

Jacquelyn Roberts fights through the humidity in her first appearance at the Flotilla Road Race.

Over 400 runners participated in the 3.3-mile race and roughly 80 took on the the longer 8-mile course. Proceeds from the road race benefit the Milford Food Bank.

Despite the crowd, Shepherd felt runners were considerate on the course.

“Everybody was really kind. It’s a lot of people in a small area,” Shepherd said. “I appreciate the people working together and being calm when there is a lot people to get through.”

Whitney Anderson, a student from Valparaiso High School, won the women’s division in the 3.3-mile race. She has family in Syracuse making it an event she was looking forward to. Thursday was her first time running the Flotilla Road Race.

“I really like how it was around the lake and it was fun looking at all the houses while I was running,” Anderson said. “It’s pretty exciting, It’s a very nice place to visit. Definitely come out, it’s a fun experience.”

The road race began at Lakeside Park just after 8 a.m. with the 8-mile runners completing the course around 9 a.m. Awards were handed out to age group winners thanks in part to the 22 sponsors of the race.

Jacquelyn Roberts was trying out the 3.3-mile race for the first time. She has had family run before and wanted to see if she could pull it off herself.

“Just get out and compete against my husband if I can. We’ve got two little kids so show them how to stay active and things like that,” Roberts said. “Just being around everybody and watch everybody run. It’s nice to see the different faces and the competition. The people who are doing it for fun and the people who are trying hard.”

Francie McDonald was returning to the Flotilla Road Race and plans to run again in the event in the future. McDonald moved out of state after starting school in Wawasee but she still has other family in Syracuse.

“It’s just fun because it’s lighthearted,” McDonald said. “It’s not embarrassing to be slow. It also makes you feel really accomplished running on the Fourth of July at eight in the morning.”