Over 100 participants were able to walk, jog and bike around Reading Saturday morning at the Reading Tornado Trot and Trail.
The Trot and Trail this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the 2011 EF3 Reading tornado that damaged or destroyed most of the buildings in town, including the church, fire station, city hall, post office and bank, and killed one person.
In the aftermath of the tornado, Reading residents have put impressive work into the town’s recovery. Trot and Trail event organizer Nancy Standiferd said that the community has “rebuilt so much stronger.”
Standiferd said that the support for the Reading Trot and Trail and Handlebars for Hope was very exciting to see.
Starting at 6:30am, the event was held at the Reading City Park and featured a 5K run/walk, 14.5-mile gravel bike ride, and a 26.5-mile gravel bike ride.
The pancake feed and ATV ride that were also planned for Saturday morning were cancelled in response to the heavy rain.
Reading has not confirmed plans to mark the 10-year tornado anniversary. The town has been working to celebrate its 150th anniversary, but was halted last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.