Runners and Walkers Take on 5K Saturday for Island Charities

Last year's inaugural "Run/Walk for the Island" in October was such a hit that  organizers decided to not wait a full year before doing it all over again.

The 5K benefit road race and challenge walk sets off this Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 at 9 am from St. Columba's Chapel on Vaucluse Avenue. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is scheduled to start the race and later present the awards to the top finishers.

"A very important part of our mission at Saint Columba's is to be an active, caring, productive member of our community," said organizer Scott Nicholson. "Supporting our neighbors in need is a vital part of our community's challenges.  The Run for the Island Race is one of the many events we host in that effort."

Organizers describe the 3.1 mile course as "very fast," having little or no significant incline and few turns to slow runners down. Last year's winner, Jacob Edwards, 22, of Stonington, CT, clocked a 5:59 minute/mile pace with an overall finish of 18:34. Not too far behind was Portsmouth's Dan Sullivan, 46, with a finish of 19:53 and a 6:24 minute/mile pace.

The overall course, measured by Ray Nelson, generally follows the Sakonnet River to the east, so nice ocean breezes certainly should make for a comfortable Saturday morning cruise.

From the start, participants will make a fairly straight shot along the tree-lined, shady Indian Avenue for almost 1.5 miles before making a turnaround at Black Point Lane and doubling back.

A slight detour happens at Mohawk Drive when harriers make an abrupt turn there and wind their way through James Court and Cornelius Court before catching up with Indian Avenue again. From there, the finish is a fairly straight shot about a quarter-mile to half-mile away, judging from the look of race maps.

About 100 entrants were pre-registered for the event as of Friday.

As the name implies, the event benefits several Aquidneck Island charitable organizations, including Middletown beneficiaries Lucy's Hearth, Child and Family Services, and Star Kids.

Lucy's Hearth is a 24-hour emergency and transitional shelter for mothers and their children who are homeless due to economic hardship, family crisis, divorce, eviction or a lack of safe, affordable housing in the area.

Child and Family Services is the largest and most comprehensive social service provider in Newport County, and one of the largest in the State of Rhode Island.

Star Kids is a scholarship program for high-risk, low-income children in non-public schools who have parents with a history of incarceration or substance abuse.

Other "Race for the Island" beneficiaries include:

• Women's Resource Center of Newport and Bristol Counties.
• Seamen's Church Institute.
• Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center.
• McKinney Cooperative Shelter.
• Star Kids.
• Blessing Way.
• East Bay Community Action Program.

Race Day Registration costs $20.00 and opens at 7:30 am. The address is 55 Vaucluse Avenue, Middletown, RI 02842. T-Shirts will be given out to the first 200 registrants. Awards will go to the top three men and women and the first man and woman in each age division. Divisions are as follows: 18 & under, 19-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

For more information: Scott Nicholson, scottnicholson@cox.net, 401-864-5740.