For 11 years the Episcopal Parish of St. Mark and St. John churches of Jim Thorpe have worked to orchestrate a fundraising race in the historic district.

Saturday morning an estimated 100 people stood on the Carbon County Court House starting line for A 15K/4-mile run held at 8:30 a.m. The new course led the 15k runners all the way to the Mauch Chunk Lake entrance where athletes had to traverse asphalt, natural trail, potentially crushed stone leading to the entrance of the park as the turn around point for runners to head back to Race Street.“It is un-groomed trail,” Race Coordinator Tom Lager warned runners.The 4-mile participants turn around at the Switchback Trail before enjoying water and a 2016 Race Street Run T-shirt at St. Marks.“About 60 percent of people run the 15k,” said Lager.“It’s a great little town,” said runner Liz Friel of Allentown. “I like the run, it’s a Fourth of July weekend tradition,” she said.“It’s a great place to come to. Jim Thorpe is a nice destination and the race is a good time,” said Ron Lozowski of Warren Glen, New Jersey.Lozowski said he ran the Race Street run two years ago and it was the town that influenced him to return.“I like the journey. You look up a race and go and experience an area where the people live,” he said.The sun blazed down on participants as the starting gun signaled the beginning of the trek through town. The money raised will be put into the restoration and maintenance fund for the churches.“Last year the money raised went to the restoration fund. With a historical building like that, there’s always something that needs to be fixed,” Lager said.St. Mark’s began organizing the race in 2006 as a fund raiser for the church. Proceeds from past years’ turnout have gone to have the church’s set of bells upgraded, a $45,000 renovation project.The first place winner took home engraved plaques while second and third place runners received trophies during an awards ceremony held in the church’s hall.