Saturday’s 2nd Annual Phoenix 5K Run-Walk/1-Mile Race Against Cancer was an excellent way to start the weekend. Being able to sleep in and drive a mere 10 minutes to a race is a treat in itself, but when the race is on our home track, so to speak, we like it even more.

Last year’s inaugural Phoenix 5K is where MMRCers Josh, Royce, and Jack met for the very first time. (It’s also where Josh won his first-ever overall victory, but let’s not dwell on that today.) So, really, this race is where it all began for the MadMayo Running Club. For that reason, and because our mission is to support local races and runners, we are especially proud that race director and McMichael HS social studies teacher/cross country coach Jonathan Williams asked if we would donate a club tee for the raffle and put our logo on the race tee. Our first sponsorship! Yay!

The Race: The weather was warm and humid. Because this is the Piedmont in May, remember. The well-marked course was kind of tough—but in a fun way! Started at the soccer field, ran up and down grassy hills to the path around the pond, around the big tree, around the baseball field, around the lake, more grass, more hills, ohmygosh it’s humid and who’s that kid running so fast and barely even breathing hard … FINISHED!

Now, I run Farris a lot. But I usually run the path and not through the grass, which, it turns out, is like millions of tiny sea anemones grabbing on and holding me back. Jack pittypatted away from me and Royce a couple minutes into the race. Royce passed me during the first loop around the pond. I nearly caught him a few times, but his legs are about as long as I am tall.

This year’s attendance was higher than last year’s for both the 5K Run/Walk and 1-miler. It’s good to know that more people from the area are giving running (and walking!) a shot, either for the first time ever or for the first time in years. A few people I talked to said they hadn’t tried anything like a 5K in ages. I mean, think about how many people work through the 10-week Couch to 5K Plan, but these participants were just like, “Heck yeah, I’ll give it a shot right now!” Our county has some serious grit, that’s what that says.

The After-Party: After the run/walk, we all dug into hot dogs and cake (and you know how much MadMayosians love cake!). The winners received their medals and the raffle commenced. Lisa from Sandy Ridge won the MMRC tee, and I’m looking forward to running with her again. The winning runner was Brian McCandless, with a time of 18:43! It’s a good thing Josh was in Flagstaff is all I can say. Jack and I won our age groups, and Royce placed second in his. Woot!

I enjoyed everything about the Phoenix 5K, but I think my favorite part was watching Lillie Tucker, Kate Williams, and Logan Swain (the three girls in the big photo at the top) cross the finish line together. They ran an awesome race and supported each other during the final push to the end. They really earned their medals, and I look forward to seeing them at next year’s Phoenix 5K on May 21, 2011. Mark your calendars!

RESULTS

5K Run
Brian McCandless 18:43
Chase Schultz  23:29
Jeremy Stevens  25:41
Keith Richardson 26:07
Steven Edwards  26:25
Don Teague  27:42
Brittany Southern  27:52
Jack Plymale 31:28
Caroline Frye  32:13
Royce Richardson  35:41
Iris Sutcliffe  36:32
Misti Williams  37:50
Cindi Hardison 39:05

5K Walk Participants
Kyle Stevens
Mark Hill
Matt Hill
Lillie Tucker
Megan Stevens
Kate Williams
Logan Swain
Emily Blakey
Megan Stuckey
Emily Frye
Emily Teague
Jennifer Swain
Jinny Elmore
Tammy Richardson
Jodi Stevens
Maria Teague
Lyn Carlisle
Lisa Mason

1 Mile Participants
Anna Casto
Michele Casto
Melanie Golter
Julie Glandt
Bob Casto