Cove to Clover Race Raises Money for Local Charities, Brings Communities Together

Burien and surrounding communities have banded together to create the Cove to Clover Race with the support of local community businesses, like Burien Toyota. 

This year’s race will be held on April 28. There will be a shoe swap to benefit low-income youth held April 19 and dinner held April 27 (more on those below). The Cove to Clover Race includes a 5k, 10k, “Snakezilla”half marathon, and Wee Race (one mile) for kids.

“This is a labor of love,” said John Nelson, Cove to Clover Race Director. “We are focusing on getting kids outdoors away from devices. Outdoors is way more fun than an iPhone. [The Cove to Clover Race] is about bringing four different communities together to do something good.”

Now in its fifth year, the Cove to Clover Race is an all-encompassing event with a shoe swap to provide lightly used shoes to low-income students, a carbo-load dinner the night before the race, and a fully supported 5K race, 10K race, half marathon, and one mile run/walk for kids (parents are encouraged to walk/run with their children). Because Cove to Clover has no paid staff, all funds raised by the race…yes 100 percent…are redistributed to local charities like the local food bank, the Highline School Foundation, and Hospitality House. Also supported is Cove to Clover’s outdoors skills program for underprivileged youth.

According to the Cove to Clover Race website, “The Cove to Clover event has evolved and is a truly grass-roots production. The race was originally organized by a group of friends with the mission of producing a professional and fun event that showcases the Highline community at its best. What’s evolved has been an exercise in positive cooperation among many entities: government, businesses, non-profits, schools and neighbors.”

Nelson admits that because Cove to Clover is, in fact, raising money for other charities instead of itself, it takes some of the stress off of needing to achieve a specific monetary amount and is simply a project of passion to help the community. With many different local sponsors, including Burien Toyota as title sponsor, and lots of community support, Nelson hopes the Cove to Clover Race can become an anchor in the community where people return year after year and bring their friends.

Who benefits? The children and adults of Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac, and Normandy Park. Nelson believes that banding together to support events like the Cove to Clover Race, whether as a sponsor, participant, or donor, will make the community better.

“When we suffer together, it brings us together,” said Nelson. “When we suffer as a community, when we try to make it up that hill, we might walk up the hill, but we will make it.”

Whether you want to run or not, there are lots of ways to get involved in addition to registering for the 5K, 10K, or Wee Race.

Snakezilla Half Marathon

While the Cove to Clover Race has been around since 2009, this is the first year for the Snakezilla half marathon. According to the website, you’ll get a finishers medal when you complete your run and survive “snake hill.” In addition to registering on the website, there is also information on how to double your donation with corporate matching, including Boeing.

Become an Angel

Cove to Clover wants children of all income levels to get involved in the Cove to Clover Race. You can sponsor a child or multiple children simply by going to the website and registering for the race as an Angel. It only costs $10 per student and your donation can be directed to a school of your choice.

Shoe Swap: now until April 19

There are many young people in our community who need athletic shoes so they can safely and comfortably participate in the Cove to Clover Race and other athletic activities. Bring your old, but lightly worn, running shoes to the Normandy Park Athletic Club (located at the Normandy Park Town Center) until April 19 for the shoe swap! Youth who need shoes can come to the Normandy Park Town Center 5-9pm on April 19 to find the pair of running shoes right for them.

Snake Pit Dinner: 6-9pm, Saturday April 27

While carbo-loading before any athletic event is important, the Snake Pit Dinner is more than your typical spaghetti dinner. For $15 (adults) or $5 (12 and younger), diners will get a homemade pasta dinner “prepared by a wonderful volunteer group of Italian mothers from our community who care about what goes on your plate. Expect a serious dish of pasta and complimentary glass of wine.”

Not only will you get your carbo-load on, you will be entertained with live music (a little Frank Sinatra sung by Joe Jewell) and there will even be a petting zoo sponsored by “A Place for Pets”  to keep the kids entertained while you savor your meal. You will leave the Snake Pit Dinner with a picture of python around your neck and a nifty Snake Brand wristband!

And the best part is all proceeds from the Snake Pit Dinner go to the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship fund.

“Our goal is to get lots of kids running and raise money for local charities,” Nelson said. “We couldn’t do it without Burien Toyota and Burien Chevrolet. I want to give a big thank you to Toyota because they were involved with Cove to Clover even before it was a big deal.”

If you are interested in participating in the Cove to Clover Race as a runner, Angel, organizer of a fundraising team, or sponsor, go to their website at www.covetocolver.com. If you have questions, contact Race Director John Nelson at jonelson@covetoclover.com.