Cold Snap Didn't Chill Participation in Belleair Classic Road RaceBy Renee Burrell
PHOTO ©Fotojack.com/Abrom Douglas
Hank Campbell of St Petersburg won the men's 10k BELLEAIR - This year's Belleair Classic Road Race was held Saturday, March 6. Benefiting local recreation programs, organizers added features this year to make the event especially family friendly. Nearly 1,000 runners ran the course along the streets of Belleair. In addition to the Men's and Women's 5k and 10k runs, added to the 2010 schedule was a Kidz Fun Run held to inspire children to embrace a health and fitness regimen of their own. Also added was the Brick-4-Breakfast cycling event, held immediately prior to the race for tri-athletes. Executive Race Director, Patti Spence, explained how the annual event has grown. "This is my second year as race director for the Town of Belleair. I took the original 5k 'Run for the Rec', which typically hosted 250 - 300 runners, and added a 10k the first year, almost tripling the size of the race and renaming it 'The Belleair Classic.' By adding the 'Brick-4-Breakfast' and the 'Classic Kidz Fun Run' this year, we entertained and captured a wider audience and built a base of athletes that weren't even aware of the original race…My staff and I work diligently throughout the year, soliciting national and local sponsors to promote this event and bring it to the next level so as to support the Town of Belleair in its fundraising efforts." Proceeds from the race benefit the Dimmitt Community Center. Visit the Belleair Classic website for race results and photos at www.belleairclassic.com.
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