Forrest Gump said that one day he just felt like running. If he had known there was a barbecue sandwich and sweet tea waiting for him, he might have run even faster.
The 46th annual Midnight Express is coming Saturday, August 29, and the starting line is at the original Country’s Barbecue location, 3137 Mercury Drive in Columbus. It’s a 5k run around the Midtown neighborhoods, kicking off a minute before midnight. At the end of the race, participants will receive an official T-shirt, a barbecue sandwich, and a large cup of sweet tea. As a bonus, the temperature will probably be a little cooler by then. If luck holds out, maybe in the mid 70s by race time.
How the tradition began
Over the years, Country’s Barbecue has grown with multiple locations and so has the Midnight Express. In the late 1970s, Athlete’s Foot in Columbus Square Mall started the event as a neighborhood fun run. Country’s became a sponsor and in the early 1980s took over organizing and promoting the popular race.
“When the race began, it didn’t benefit any cause, but then we turned to the visually impaired community, and that became the heart of the ‘why’,” explained Country’s co-owner Scott Ressmeyer…