PINE BEACH – The annual 5k has done more than provide a workout; it has exercised local students’ minds.
The event is a fundraiser, and they have given out 11 scholarships to local kids, each worth $1,000, said one of the organizers, Sally Rinderer. They also give to the local first responders: the fire department, police and first aid.
Her daughter, Mindy D’Addario, was leading the event. She explained that the race is now organized by the Ocean Running Club.
The course is run in different directions in alternating years, to keep things fresh, she said. Some relatives of people local to Pine Beach flew in for this all the way from Colorado.
Vista Park was alive with energy, and filled with people who came from all over to take part in this tradition that first started in 1999. They checked out fitness vendors and healthy snacks while upbeat music blasted from the starting line.
The first event of the day was for a one mile run at 8 a.m. It was still hot but not as bad as it would eventually get that day. Runners kicked off down Riverside Drive, heading east, and then back again where the finish line was at the same place. Organizers and supporters hung out by the end to clap people through in support so that no one crosses the finish line alone.
Some held a bit of energy in reserve to give a last-minute push past someone else in front of or alongside them.
The 5K itself had at least 400 participants, organizers said. They launched off in a different direction on Riverside, while a State Police helicopter hovered overhead. They looped around the borough then back to Riverside for the finish.
In case they weren’t going to do enough running that morning, some of them were jogging to the start of the race. Most chose to stretch in place instead.
For the first time, there was also a ruck. About 20 people signed up to carry 22 pounds in their rucksack to carry the memories of 22 service members who commit suicide a day.
It wasn’t just scholarships that were provided; awards were given out for such things as first place male, first place female, first ruck finisher, and more.
Since this is the borough of Pine Beach’s 100
th
anniversary, there was also a special prize for the 100
th
person to cross the finish line.
