Active and outgoing, generous and gregarious, Jeff Dusenbury seemed to know someone in every Anchorage crowd, whether through his prolific bicycling, his job in sales for Food Service of America or his neighborhood connections.
Little wonder, then, that registration for an inaugural footrace and walk Friday night in Dusenbury's memory already is nearing 400.
"He just had so many friends,'' said Missy Anderson, Dusenbury's friend and a race organizer. "It doesn't take much to spread the word.''
Dusenbury, a West High graduate, long-time Anchorage resident and avid bicyclist, runner and skier, died while bicycling a year ago when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Anchorage. He was 51.
Friday's Jeff Dusenbury SweatFest, a timed 5-mile and untimed 2-mile run/walk that begin and end at West High, will serve as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club-Alaska.
Anderson and Kristin Fulmar, co-race directors of the Arctic Bicycle Club in which Dusenbury was a racer and organizer, said the race is a celebration of their friend's life and memory.
Talking about the race, Fulmar on Thursday repeated the recent words of Dusenbury's wife, Melissa: "This is a time to be happy and joyful in Jeff's honor.''
Anderson said organizers opted for a run/walk event, as opposed to a bike race, because it was likely to generate broader interest.
The SweatFest will also promote bike safety. The Arctic Bicycle Club used last season's Glen Alps Hill Climb as a fundraiser and used proceeds to buy about 350 bicycle helmets that will be distributed to adults and kids alike at Friday's race.
Ed Sniffen from the Arctic Bicycle Club also will deliver a biking safety message at race's start. Rep. Matt Claman of Anchorage will present a proclamation in Dusenbury's honor and Mayor Ethan Berkowitz is scheduled to attend, Anderson said.
By coincidence, runners and walkers can experience one of Dusenbury's mottos -- "Why suffer a little when you can suffer a lot?'' -- on the race courses. Near the finish line, runners and walkers will climb the bicycle path on the West High Hill from Westchester Lagoon to the school.
People who can't make the race but want to support it are encouraged to register as a "phantom'' runner and donate in Dusenbury's honor.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
WHAT: Jeff Dusenbury SweatFest, 5-mile timed run/walk and 2-mile untimed run/walk
WHERE: West High
WHEN: 2-miler, 7 p.m. Friday; 5-miler, 7:05 p.m.
REGISTER: Online registration ($40 adults, $25 kids 14 and under) available at jeffdusenburysweatfest.com until noon Friday; day of race registration ($45 adults, $30 kids 14 and under), 5:30-6:30 p.m.