A large number of runners that came out to this year’s Daily News Boogie made it a family affair.
Some were instilling the virtues of athletic pursuits into their children as one of the hundreds of kids aged nine and younger running the 1K Mini Boogie with moms, dads, brothers, sisters and grandparents cheering them on.
Others were simply trying to keep up to their kids.
Hannah Pelland and Anissa Pelland seemed more like friends than mother and daughter as they took part in the five-kilometre race.
“We both encouraged each other, we like running together and spending time together,” said the younger Hannah.
The Maxfields were five strong with Mae, age 73, her grandson Dylan Fenwick, age 10, his mother Yvette Fenwick, Yvette’s brother and sister-in-law Lincoln and Kelly Maxfield and their 20-year-old daughter Alyssa.
All five ran the five-kilometre race.
“It’s a great cause. I love that it’s for Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said Yvette. “Plus it gets us motivated to follow the young ones. Our generation’s pretty sedentary.”
Grandma Mae pointed out she has always been active – she’s a former swim coach who is now taking Zumba classes.
And Dylan said he’s keen on one day completing a marathon.
BLIND RUNNER 'FEELS SO GOOD' AFTER RACE
Lisa Harrison, 47, never thought she would be running in the Boogie only two years after losing her eyesight.
“I can’t believe. I didn’t even stop running, this is a very emotional finish for me,” said Harrison.
Two years ago, she survived a horrific event, which led to her blindness.
It was Feb. 6, 2010, when Drew Travis Rhodes, Harrison's estranged boyfriend, stabbed her eyes, and slashed her face and neck in a Columbia Street motel. He then went to Peterson Creek Bridge and jumped, dying on the rocks below.
The biggest challenge for Harrison on Sunday was believing in herself.
“I didn’t think I would be running at this point in my life after two years of being blind,” said Harrison.
She was tied at the wrist to her personal trainer for the 10-kilometre run and she completed the race in a personal best time of one hour and 20 minutes.
“It was an awesome run, I feel so good,” said a beaming Harrison. “I feel like I can start to live my life again.”
This is just the beginning for Harrison. She is now training for a half marathon at the end of July.
NO WALKING DOWN THE AISLE FOR THIS BRIDE
When Sarah Kier decided to run the Daily News Boogie, she knew it would be a great way to get exposure for her cause.
The 29-year-old ran the 5K portion of the race wearing a flowing white gown, which certainly turned a lot of heads. And that was just the point.
“I just wanted to get out there and for people to ask questions, ask me why I am wearing a wedding dress running a five kilometre,” she said.
The answer is she’s raising money and awareness for cancer research. Kier is a bride gone wild.
Brides Gone Wild have been doing activities in groups and individually while wearing wedding gowns while raising money through pledges and by wearing sashes of sponsors.
Kier ran the race six years ago, and said taking it on in the wedding dress wasn’t too bad. And her cause kept things in perspective.
“I just hiked it up and ran. I figured any discomfort that I was feeling was a million times less than those that are dealing with cancer or those that have battled cancer.”
For more information, check out Brides Gone Wild For a Cure on Facebook.
