Residents Gather for Haiti 5K

Over 300 men and women gathered at College Park's 94th Aerosquadron Restaurant Saturday morning for the Women's Distance Festival's Run/Walk for Haiti

The 5K race, a nationwide event held annually since 1980, evolved from the idea that women could not run distances, according to Nick Panebianco, this year's Race Director, who took over this year for Lucy Younes. Today, the state of Maryland alone is home to a 10-race series.

The event also serves a greater purpose, with proceeds benefiting charities for the past five years of racing. This year's charity of choice: the J.A. Clermont Foundation (JACMF), created by Renee Clermont when her husband Jacques died in a car accident in 1995. Ms. Clermont opened an orphanage in her late husband's hometown of Jacmel in Haiti; today the orphanage is home to 22 boys, with hopes of expanding to girls in the near future.

At a participation fee ranging from $20 to $30 depending on registration date, individuals competed in either the women's race or the men's, with a family walk also serving as an option. Of the 300 plus registered participants, 225 ran in the women's only segment. The day's festivities commenced with the women's 5k at 8 a.m., followed by both the men's only and the family walk at 9 a.m.

Throughout the morning, sidelines consisted of tables of food and beverages where family members gathered to support each other as well as the cause.

Ted Poulos of McLean, Virginia, has been a runner for 27 years and won the men's race with a time of 18:06. Poulos, 48, a Business Manager for HP by day, recently ran his 4000th career race.

"My wife also ran women's distance," he said. "I wanted a family event, it was fun."

Many female participants also ran as part of the Women's Distance Festival, hoping to receive prizes after the race.

"I ran in four Women's Distance Festivals to get a prize," said Anne Goodwin. "Last year's was a fleece vest." 

This year's prizes included Pacers gift certificates. According to Panebianco, Pacers helped sponsor the event alongside the Prince George's Running Club.

Aside from prizes, many of the runners were motivated by the benefit at hand. Ryan Lawlar, 29, ran the race to support the charity as well as to train for a 10k.

"I don't typically choose races based on benefits,"said Lawlar. However, he said that Saturday's cause was a different story, as he was compelled to run after noticing the benefit in the Washington Runners Club's events listings. Lawlar finished in third place.

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