Running is not just about exercise but about friendship, community, and helping one another – as Glastonbury’s 4th Annual NRG Energy Race to Fill the Pantry 5K on Sunday November 13th showed.
Sunny, crisp weather encouraged local runners to roll out of bed, and a host of awards and raffle prizes awaited the fast and the lucky. The club’s signature cookies, fresh coffee, and steaming cups of homemade soup also helped draw a crowd. But the 200+ participants came not so much for the 5K course, prize-giving, and food as for the post-race camaraderie.
Rich Baber gives $1000 check to Janine Fiedler of Glastonbury Food Bank
Charity begins in clubs
Charity adds another dimension to running. Club president Rich Baber handed a $1000 check and a trailer piled high with food to Janine Fiedler from Glastonbury Social Services. The check came from registration fees ($5 from every runner) and all participants donated a non-perishable food item.
The cash and the food go – just in time for Thanksgiving – to the Glastonbury Food Bank, a social services program which helps local families in need.
Beginners welcome
Couch to 5K training group celebrate their 1st 5K race
Although the usual suspects were out in force – the die-hards you might see pounding the sidewalks at 5am if you happened to get out of bed that early – the race’s easygoing atmosphere also attracted beginner runners. In the run-up to the Race to Fill the Pantry, the club offered a free nine-week “Couch to 5K” training program for beginners. 35 self-confessed couch potatoes signed up, with the majority completing their first 5K race.
The club intends to offer a similar program in the spring, culminating in April in the Glastonbury River Runners’ 2nd Annual Run Diva Run in aid of the Team Towanda Foundation.
Families have fun
Kids add a sense of fun to any event, and the Race to Fill the Pantry was no exception. Many club members ran with their children, several of whom had participated in a Zoomerangs children’s running program offered by Fleet Feet Sports of West Hartford. Zoomerangs kids got free entry to the Race to Fill the Pantry – just one way of encouraging children to get healthy and out in the fresh air.
Overall winner Brian Nelson (right)
Congratulations to…
…all runners, but particularly to overall winner Brian Nelson, who came in well ahead of some stiff competition in an impressive time of 16 minutes and 4.9 seconds. The women’s champion was Gabriela Hindman in 19 minutes 47.1 seconds. Full results are on The Last Mile Timing website and photos are on the Glastonbury River Runners Flickr site.
Local businesses support community events
Carolyn Long & family from Bella Sophia Baking Co.
Another gratifying aspect of the Race to Fill the Pantry was the fact that so many local businesses had reached their hands in their pockets to support this community event.
As well as the race’s naming sponsor NRG Energy, the Glastonbury River Runners would like to thank the Spicy Green Bean Deli, Jefferson Radiology, Amica Insurance, Barnum Financial Group’s Center for Special Needs Planning, Bicycles East, Cycling Concepts, Logan Grady LLC, Trane, Bella Sophia Baking Co., Connecticut Surgical Group, Fleet Feet Sports, Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Integrated Rehabilitation Services, Isagenix, Keenan Law LLC, REI, SoG Coffee Roasters, and McDonalds for their continued support of the local running community.
Join us!
The Glastonbury River Runners welcomes anyone from walkers and beginner joggers to veteran marathoners. See www.glastonburyriverrunners.com or “like” us on Facebook.
Along with our usual winter training groups, free beginner programs and three annual 5K races, we’re also planning to kick-start at Walk Your Way to a Marathon training group on New Year’s Day. Come join in the fun!
