Pat's Pizza and Community...isn't it worth it!

This past weekend we had the popular Pat's Pizza 5 mile Classic and Kids 1 mile and New 1/2 mile fun run. Pat's Pizza, Riverview Physical Therapy and Maine Running Company all sponsered or co-sponsered both the 5-mile and kids fun run event. I am a member of the Yarmouth Clam Festival Steering Committee and also direct the Kids Race, as well as host a party for 15 families on Saturday afternoon. It is truely a weekend about community!

Needless to say, my day started out at 4:30am. We had almost 150 kids pre-registered for the Kid's 1 mile race and 91 entered for the 3-6 mile fun run. The one thing I learned this year......is always expect parents to show up 5 minutes before the race to pick up their kids race packet! 5 minutes before the 7:15 start of the NEW 3-6 year old 1/2 mile fun run race, 20 parents are anxiously clogging the pre-race table waiting to get their kids number. Since all kids in the 1/2 mile wear only the number 1 and there are no race results, I convince all the parents to get there kids to the start of the 1/2 mile race, pick up their t-shirt after the race and we get the event off on time. We counted 150+ participants in this race, which means we had a race day sign up of over 40+ kids participating vs. pre-race sign up. Several parents after the race thanked me for adding the 1/2 mile fun run as their kids didn't get run over by an anxious 7-12 year old, hoping to win an Olympic Gold Medal.

Speaking of 7-12 year olds, Eric Wilcox ran 5:58 to win the 1 mile race and Kirsten Sandreuter ran 6:26 to win the girls overall title. The Yarmouth Kids 1 mile race is unique in that it is the only kids race featuring chip timing in the state. Age group awards were given in 10-12 and 7-9 for both Boys and Girls. Awesome, seeing the pride on these young athlete's as they accept their award...

The Pat's Pizza 5 Mile Classic was won by Jon Wilson in 25:44. Jon, a senior at Richmond University, had run 105 miles the week before in North Carolina with several of his teammates. Obviously, his hard work is paying off. Kirsten Barry is REALLY in great shape, as she won the women's event in 27:59, besting her time last year by over a minute...watch out for her at B2B...she is smoking!

Yes, by the end of the day I am watching 35+ kids in my yard play soccer and eating clams we dug the day before, but...isn't it worth it!

Remember....Run Happy!