Al Salvato was running before running was cool. Back when “jogging” wasn’t considered an insult. Back before hundreds of men and women would cruise through the neighborhoods of Northern Kentucky, wearing fancy running attire and expensive, sophisticated watches.
Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, Salvato would pull on a pair of his tight running shorts, a T-shirt, and a white ballcap and go for a run around Fort Thomas. He had come south from New York City a few years earlier on a track scholarship to Morehead State University, and settled in Northern Kentucky after getting a job at The Kentucky Post.
But he more than settled, he became an integral part of the community. His children attended Fort Thomas schools, and he became involved in coaching and supporting the track teams there. He moved to The Cincinnati Post, where he became an award-winning reporter and editor. His biggest love, however, was the Campbell County YMCA.
So he joined up, got on the board, and pushed for better things. In 1991, he started a New Year’s Day run to showcase the local running community, raise awareness about Highlands’ track teams, and raise money for the “Y.”
“He thought it was a great way to start out the New Year,” said his son, Dan Salvato, who lives in Frankfort. “He thought it was a healthy way, and a great way to start off the year.”
In early 2006, however, Al Salvato, 56, died from complications from his battle with leukemia. The race, however, continued.
So on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., Fort Thomas and the “Y” will host the 10th Annual Al Salvato Memorial Frostbite Run. The family remains involved, with Dan attending the race, talking about his father’s memory, and firing off the starting pistol that begins the five-mile run and the 5K (3.1 mile) walk.
The race begins at 10:30 a.m. on New Year’s morning — early enough for the running fanatics who love a cold start for a winter race, but late enough for the partiers to get up and out after a few hours of sleep.
The runners will take off from outside the YMCA at 1437 S. Fort Thomas Ave., just off U.S. 27. There’s plenty of parking in and around the “Y,” but organizers ask that you be considerate of the neighbors — you will be starting in and running through a residential community. And with the “Y” open and available, there will be a warm place to wait with real restrooms.
The running course takes the runners through Fort Thomas, going down Fort Thomas and Grand avenues, across Highland Avenue, and back up Fort Thomas Avenue to the “Y.” As an added bonus, the course detours through Tower Park.
The 5K course is similar, although its cuts out most of the Grand Avenue-Highland Avenue portion. It still includes the run through the park, though.
You can still sign up on race day starting at 9 a.m. at the “Y” for $35.
“The race is a tribute to him,” said Al’s daughter, Kristen Salvato, who still lives in Fort Thomas.
But it’s more than that, she said. It continues her father’s commitment to the community, to its families, and to its health. All of the money raised from the run goes back to the “Y,” which uses it to support programs and expand its outreach.
“It was his way of giving back to the community,” Kristen said. “He wanted to make sure the families had places to go for running and their health. He wanted the children to have a place to go after school and in the summer, where they could swim or just play games.”
Kristen never picked up her father’s love for running, but she has been out to support the race and watch the runners. Several times, she has walked the 5K portion.
Dan has run the five miles in the past, but now spends his time promoting and emceeing the event.
“I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces out there,” he said. “They same people come back year after year.”
He’s hoping that this year, hats and gloves may not be needed. Although promoted as a “frostbite” run in the middle of winter, Dan said he always prefers milder weather, which brings out more of the non-traditional runners. While hardcore runners will show up in a blizzard, warmer temperatures bring out more people, he said.
And that’s good for the “Y.”
Paul Long writes weekly for the NKyTribune about running and runners. For his daily running stories, follow him at dailymile.com or on Twitter @Pogue57