TYLER, Texas — The streets of south Tyler are poised for an influx of visitors as the city prepares for the highly anticipated Fresh 15 race this weekend. Drawing participants from across the nation, the event promises a lively atmosphere and charitable contributions to local causes.
The Fresh 15 race, is scheduled to start bright and early tomorrow at 7 a.m., followed by the Lil Freshie 1K at 9 a.m. Race Director Ashleigh Endicott said that the event is about more than just running.
"We wanted to do something in our community for a couple of different reasons. One, for health and wellness, to promote people to get out of bed and really get out there. And then the second is being part of our community," Endicott said.
Endicott also highlighted the philanthropic aspect of the event, noting that every penny raised goes directly to various charities across East Texas.
The race route, which starts and finishes at Fresh on Old Jacksonville Highway, crosses major roads, which means there will be road closures and potential delays. The impacted areas, include closures along Grande Blvd. from Old Jacksonville to Broadway Ave. and sections of Rice Road and Broadway.
"We just want to keep all traffic off of there and keep people away from there," Tyler Police Department spokesperson Andy Erbaugh said.
While roads are scheduled to reopen around noon, Tyler Police urges motorists to exercise caution when driving through areas with partial closures, advising them to slow down and be aware of runners.