There are already 10,000 pre-registered participants for this Saturday's Crazylegs Classic and roughly 1,000 to 2,500 others are expected to eventually partake in the event, which would break the unofficial record of 12,000 entrants. While there is no guarantee that this year's classic will have the highest attendance, or even most lucrative from a fund-raising standpoint, one thing is certain: The 23rd annual Crazylegs Classic will be one of the most memorable runs in event history.
NFL Hall-of-Famer and Wisconsin alumnus Elroy \Crazylegs"" Hirsch passed away this past January at the age of 80. Hirsch, a Wisconsin native, played wide receiver for UW in 1942 before putting his college football career on hold to serve in the military. After an illustrious professional football career which included an NFL Championship with the Los Angeles Rams in 1951, Hirsch returned to Wisconsin in 1969, where he served as athletic director until 1987.
Hirsch's love for Wisconsin never dwindled after his term as athletic director. He stayed very active in supporting UW athletics-even in his final years as honorary chair of the Crazylegs Classic.
Former UW director of athletics Pat Richter once said, ""There has never been a more loved and admired ambassador for Badger sports.""
The Crazylegs Classic is one of the best 100 running events in the nation, according to Runner's World Magazine.
With Hirsch passed away, Executive Director of the National W Club Terry Murawski said that the event is trying its best to remember its namesake.
""You can see that the back of [the t-shirts] sports his No. 40, which is what he wore when he played,"" Murawski said. ""We also have a signature of Elroy on the front. So again, we are doing what we can to remember our good friend Elroy.""
Ruth Hirsch and the rest of the Hirsch family will serve as grand marshalls for the event.
The event features an eight-kilometer run (4.97 miles) and a two-mile walk, which will commence in Capitol Square this Saturday at 10 a.m. Those who will be running the eight kilometers will start from the Capitol Building, follow State Street down to University Avenue, then take Observatory Drive to Picnic Point before returning to Camp Randall Stadium to cross the finish at the 50-yard line. Those choosing to walk will circle Capitol Square, and then continue down State Street to University Avenue before coming to Randall Avenue, which they will follow all the way to Camp Randall Stadium.
Murawski, who organizes the event, is not only excited about the extremely positive projected turnout, but is eager to unveil Camp Randall Stadium's renovations, which had previously been closed off to the public.
""You can see from the outside there's a lot going on, but this will be the first peek for fans to get in there and get the 'wow' effect of the renovation of Camp Randall Stadium, and it certainly is significant,"" Murawski said.
Rain or shine this Saturday, Hirsch's legacy will live on, and the 10,000-plus participants will do their best to pay him back for his dedication to the cardinal and white by walking and running.
