| The
second annual Goodwill 5000 Meter Run took place at the Montclair
Art Museum, Montclair, New Jersey, on November 18, 2006. The weather
on race day was sunny, crisp and cool-perfect running weather. The
registration and post-race area inside the art gallery added a measure
of elegance that is rarely seen at a road race. The racecourse through
the historic estate section of Montclair along South Mountain Avenue
was stunning, still lined with autumn foliage. Race volunteers arrived
punctually, with enthusiasm, and ready to work. And our donors and
sponsors were generous and committed to the cause. All of these
factors combined to produce a fantastic event.
Goodwill
5000 sponsors included:
- C
& D Cooling & Heating
- Custom
Craft Homes ˇ Fleet Feet Sports
- Bloomfield's
Best Bagels
- The
Amazon Café
- Commercial
Business Forms
and
many more.
A
one-mile, non-competitive Fun Run took place at 8:00 a.m. with 40
participants, mostly children. Judging from the smiles on the children's
faces, the Fun Run was indeed fun! Montclair High School volunteers
handed ribbons and water bottles to all Fun Run finishers.
Four
hundred people participated in the 5K (3.1 miles) run/walk, which
was a race certified by the U.S.A. Track and Field Association-
New Jersey.
About
twenty-five volunteers were graduates of Goodwill Rescue Mission's
drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation programs. They performed beautifully,
standing along the racecourse, cheering enthusiastically for the
runners, handing out water at the water station, and keeping the
area clean. We also had great volunteers from the Essex Running
Club and Montclair High School, as well as many individuals who
wanted to help a worthy cause.
All
in all, the race raised nearly five thousand dollars for the Mission's
programs as well as numerous bags of dry and canned goods for its
food pantry.
The
award ceremony took place inside the museum, together with a post-race
breakfast of fresh bagels and coffee donated by Bloomfield's Best
Bagels and Starbucks.
It
seems clear that people who attended the Goodwill 5000 Meter Run
had a great time, and will be back next year. We are looking forward
to another great time at the Goodwill 5000 Meter Run in 2007! |
