“On your mark, get set…go!” These words ushered in the eighth annual Arbor Day
Run, which took place on Saturday, April 6. The first runners to cross a finish
line were not seasoned veterans but children taking part in the Kids’ 100-Yard
Dash. Their young age did nothing to diminish their fervor—as runners raced
from ladybug to bumblebee balloon, small faces were set in fierce
determination. One five-year-old confided, “I’ve been training for this race all
week.”
In
all, the 2013 Arbor Day Run was attended by over 70 running enthusiasts, most
of whom took part in a 5K race traversing the Arboretum’s scenic meadow and
woodland trails. Courtney Leigh was the overall champion of the 5K at just over
22 minutes. Microchip timing was provided by Bluepoint Race Timing and
Management.
Many families
enjoyed a more leisurely one-mile Fun Run, followed by refreshments and the 5K
awards ceremony. In keeping with the Arboretum’s mission of environmental
stewardship, awards were hand-crafted from slices of invasive Tree of Heaven. 5K
runners also received sweetbay magnolia saplings, the Arboretum’s Native Tree
of the Year, in honor of Arbor Day.
The
Arbor Day Run was sponsored in part by Judge Anthony, Consulting Arborist, and
Julio Ramirez, a pediatrician practicing in Centreville and Chestertown.
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