The Susan G. Komen Steel Magnolias Race for the Cure® took place in Jackson on April 1, 2006.  There were plenty of pink-shirted women and breast cancer survivors along with their spouses, children and other friends.  Over 3,000 people came out to support it this year, a total of 150 racing, and thousands more walking, running for fun, and cheering.  Under sunny skies and cool temperatures, the 5K run kicked off at 8:30am.  The course traveled along Jackson’s downtown streets to the finish line in One Jackson Place, at Lamar and Capital streets.  A 5K walk and a 1-mile fun run followed the 5K run.

John Nevels was the overall winner in the 5K run finishing the race in 17:49.  Heather Butler was the first female, finishing seventh overall in 20:00.  Robert Ross (18:02) and Della Hilburn (23:21) took the Masters titles.  Mark Terpstra (22:46) and Dona Andrew (22:02) were the top Grand Masters.  Pine Belt Pacer Larry Sykes took the trophy as the winner of the 5K Walk in 32:35 followed by PBP Nestor Raul Anzola, the top Masters, in 33:26 and Caesar Hamilton, the top Grand Masters, in 34:05.  Christine Liberto was the top female walker and also the first cancer survivor to finish the competition, crossing the line in 37:14.

In addition to Larry and Néstor Raúl, Pine Belt Pacer Kily Garcia was also present in the race.  Kily didn’t realize when the gun went off and started running right behind the whole pack of competitive and recreational runners and right before the walkers; however, he ran strong the 5K and managed to finished in 26:50, only ten seconds slower that the PR he set the previous week in New Orleans.

It was a great race walk event.  Everyone was there to have fun, some scored their times, some other not.  However, everyone was there to ENJOY the race.  The walkers supported and cheered to each other.  Some people competed and gave their best but nobody was there to scream or point the finger at the other opponents.  What a great sport and friendship environment and how different from some of the Grand Prix series in which the competence may becomes very unfriendly because of the hostile attitude of only one walker to his peers.  In the GP series, a very competitive fellow who thinks he is the only real race walker in Mississippi alleges that everyone else is cheating especially when someone gets close to him or he is passed during the course of a race.  It is a very sad situation.  Hopefully, this comment won’t lead to my disqualification in the Run for the Roses to take place in Prentiss, MS this coming Saturday J

We participated as many others in support of a loved relative or friend touched by the disease.  Kily ran in support of his mother-in-law who is battling breast cancer back in Honduras.  I did it to celebrate a friend of our family, Consuelo Arjona, who is also currently fighting the disease in Colombia.  Congratulations to the organizers and the Mississippi Track Club to put on an excellent event for a great cause.  The Komen Race for the Cure® Series raises money and awareness for breast cancer education, research and treatment programs.  It also celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.
© Pijume Diwesi  See Results.

Pictures

Some pictures from Kily (or as Nestor called him last week - Kili)