Fundraising running weekend

This past weekend included two of the bigger running-related fundraising events in the area, two that I enjoy very, very much.

Triangle Run/Walk for Autism 5k

The Triangle Run/Walk for Autism 5k has been around for eleven years, usually under the name Autism Ribbon Run 5k. I missed the first few years of the event but ever since I got involved about five years ago, it's become one of my favorites because of the downtown location, excellent crowds, and post-run party atmosphere. A few of my friends' families have been touched by autism, so it's also nice to know that we're helping to raise funds for an eventual cure.

This year I had the added bonus of being part of a team from church that was raising funds and running together. We ran in honor of Willie, a friend from church that struggles with some challenges but likes everyone and is liked by everyone. The running twins, Caitlin and Daphne, organized the team and did a great job getting folks to sign up. By race morning, there were 15 runners on the team -- plus Willie and our friend Ronnie, who would watch the race from his wheelchair -- and $1,025 had been raised. In addition, they made "Team Willie" placards for all of us to wear.

Saturday morning started out surprisingly warm and humid, so my two-mile warmup from Cameron Village to Moore Square downtown may not have been a good idea, although I ran into the Akerses out doing their Saturday morning run. I was already sweaty (and gnat-bait) by the time I got downtown, but I had plenty of time to check in and hang out with Bobby, Ronnie and Jeremy, plus I saw lots of folks from the NCRC arriving to run in the 5k. The rest of "Team Willie" trickled in over the rest of the morning, and we were all race-ready and excited by the time the 5k kicked off.

I probably used up some of my energy running from Cameron Village to Moore Square, but I felt good starting out although I was quickly passed by Caitlin, Wimberly, Todd and Erin before even getting past the governor's mansion. I was already zonked by the time we reached the hill at the halfway point, where Daphne and Annette powered by me. (Also Sheila, wearing butterfly wings as part of her team.) Fortunately, the last mile was a nice, relaxed jog down Person Street, and Stephanie and I encouraged each other on to the finish line, where all the folks who had finished ahead of us (Bobby, Danielle, etc.) cheered us in. Caitlin went back to accompany Willie in and the rest of us cheered for Laura as she arrived. Finally, the whole team, plus a couple of hangers-on, welcomed Willie to the finish line with lots of cheers and yelling, and I believe he enjoyed his first 5k and his first team event very, very much.

More than 2,600 folks took part across the morning's three events -- the 5k, the one-mile fun run and the kids' dash. Some of the Carolina Hurricanes and their mascot and cheerleaders took part, too. And there were 166 teams of all sizes from all over the area! At last report, gross proceeds from the event had passed $230,000, so we knew we were really helping raise good funds for the research. And my friends Kimberlie and Laura won their age groups.

As usual, they had a great post-race setup with lots of food and drink and entertainment for the runners. I got to check in with some of the NCRC folks that had placed overall or in age groups and later saw the lovely handmade plates that the winners received. Then it was time for another two-mile "cooldown" run back to Cameron Village, where we got a great brunch at Flyin' Biscuit and got to relive all the notes from that morning's run. Running as part of a team was a lot of fun, and I hope we'll get to do that again very soon.

Garmin data from the morning. The three miles in the middle are the race miles.

Walk for Hope 10k

The Walk for Hope got started 21 years ago as an effort to raise funds for the research and treatment of mental illness, and it quickly became one of the biggest walk events in Raleigh. However, they've always welcomed runners who wanted to run the 10k course, so for many years there have been a hundred or so runners that lined up in front of all the walkers each year and had the course somewhat to ourselves before the mass of walking humanity arrived behind us. I started taking part in 1996 and 2009 would be my fourteenth consecutive Walk.

I can track the point where I changed from a 5k/10k runner to an endurance runner to the 2005 Walk for Hope. It was my best 10k run in a long time, thanks to my dad's suggestion to back off my running pace some so that I wouldn't burn myself out too quickly. That strategy worked like a charm, I felt great at the end of the 10k, and I thought to myself, "wow, I feel good enough to run that loop again." Wheels began turning in my mind, and two weeks later I ran my first half-marathon, the Inside Out Sports Classic, which was then an October race.

This year, however, was the first time I really did run the Walk for Hope twice. With all the interest from runners that signed up for the walk and then jogged the 10k loop from the Angus Barn through Umstead State Park, they certified the course and had the first official Run for Hope 10k race. It was very cool at race time and I couldn't wait to get started so that I could warm up. (Fortunately, the rain I drove through on the way to the Walk didn't stick around.)

Turns out that more than 200 runners showed up for the inaugural Run for Hope 10k, and it was a pretty excited group of people when we moved out to highway 70 and lined up for the start. The first hill as we head towards Umstead is always a tough hill to climb, but we got through it OK and then we had a long downhill almost all the way to the visitors' center inside the park. The trees inside the park sheltered us from a good bit of the wind, and I enjoyed the trail section down and around Big Lake. The hills got us a bit on the way back, and the cool wind picked up again once we got back out on the highway. But the hill that is tough on the way up is a breeze on the way down, and I actually picked up the pace as we got closer to the finish line arch. I had a bit of a battle at the end with a tall guy who fought hard but eventually couldn't keep up with me as we covered the last quarter-mile. I was very pleased with the 67:43 finish time on my Garmin.

Almost an hour's rest, an apple and a Gu pack later, I was back out there again for the regular Walk for Hope with almost 3,000 others -- the folks with the Angus Barn said the 2009 registration was bigger than any other year, and later announced that more than $400,000 was raised. The sun had come out by the time the main walk started, so we had a little bit warmer temperatures for my second lap. Since most of the runners had gone out earlier with the official race, there were much fewer runners to keep each other company than when we were part of the main walk in previous years. But the volunteers were still helpful and encouraging, and on the return trip from the visitors' center it was great to have other walkers around.

Needless to say, the second lap around the course was much more recreational, although I still had some good times on the easier miles. The main walk uses some more of the Angus Barn property than the certified 10k course, so I ended up covering more distance on the second loop. It was still great to have all the volunteers and cheerleaders welcoming us back to the Barn, and then we headed out back to their new Pavilion setup for an excellent post-walk buffet of burgers, hot dogs, BBQ and some excellent chocolate-chip cookies. The band was great as usual, and I'm deeply appreciative of the physical therapy company that was doing complimentary calf and foot massages.

It's not hard to see why the Walk for Hope is one of the best events in Raleigh, and with the addition of the Run for Hope 10k, it should continue to get better and better. With some more food and entertainment options ready when the runners finish, this event should get more and more support from the running community.

Sunday's Garmin data. The first loop was the race.