After torrential rains in Fayetteville, NC, early Saturday morning the clouds parted and the perfect day for a 5K run unfolded. At Honeycutt Park, it was a run Straight to the Finish in support of the work of the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program (ISOP), a program of Ability Connection Colorado.
50 runners preregistered online and day-of registration began at 7AM to welcome an additional 7 participants (weather reports may have scared some folks away). All registered runners and 1 Mile walkers received a beautiful green ISOP t-shirt and a sincere thank you from 5K race Founding Mother Rachel Jacobs who was busily preparing the site for the event. Rachel’s young daughter Ella has a spine growing straight thanks to ISOP and Mehta Casting! And this race is her way of giving back to ISOP and Heather Hyatt Montoya for providing life-changing resources for the Jacobs family.
- Diamond Dust played courtesy of the Cape Fear Music Center
There’s nothing like an early morning concert to set the tone for a great race! Diamond Dust, an all-girl, all-teenager band from the Cape Fear Music Center was on hand to entertain the racers as they geared up to run. Playing their version of rock classics from Heart to Joan Jett, it’s safe to say that these ladies earned some new fans and got our athletes pumped up.
At 8:30AM the whistle blew and the runners were off on a beautiful 5K (3.1 mile) course that wound through the beautiful and quiet neighborhoods behind Honeycutt Park. The first runner finished in just 18 minutes and remarked “Wow – what a great course! If you do this again next year, I’ll be here.” With that he handed the ISOP t-shirt to his 7 year old daughter/biggest fan and they headed out to enjoy the rest of their day.
- Oden , the youngest finisher of the 5K is congratulated by Sweet Frogs
All the racers finished in good time and great spirits. Two large Sweet Frogs greeted finishers with water and energy bars to replenish their efforts as well as Sweet Frog coupons.
First-time 5K racer Carmen traveled over an hour to Fayetteville for the race and was beaming as she crossed the finish line. Oden was our youngest racer at 3 months (pictured below celebrating with the Sweet Frogs!) and longtime runner Gregg was our most mature participant at 74 years young.
The proceeds from the Inaugural 5K Race Straight to the Finish will allow ISOP to continue training physicians through hands-on tutorials in Mehta’s Growth Guidance Casting — the only noninvasive cure for progressive infantile scoliosis.
Thank you to The Jacobs Family and darling Ella for your compassion and drive.
