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Run fosters fun, funds for sports

By Lisa Buie
Published December 23, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Zach Boyden-Holmes] Joseph Scrimali, 15, of Meadow Point stretches before an autumn evening run with the Wiregrass Running Club on Meadow Point Boulevard. The club's founders also have organized a run/walk event to do "something good" for the community.

WESLEY CHAPEL - There's nothing like sports to unite a community, whether it's a high school football team electrifying a small town or Olympians prompting nations to set aside hostilities for a couple of weeks.

Wesley Chapel, composed mostly of Tampa commuters whose knowledge of neighbors extends only as far as what model home they have, is now finding a greater sense of camaraderie and pride, thanks to such folks as Don Howard and Tom Ketchum.

Theirs is the story of how two guys who love to run have taken that love and are turning it into a big community lovefest in the form of a 5K race and 1-mile fun run to raise money.

The beneficiaries are athletic programs at the area's newest schools, Wiregrass Ranch High and John Long Middle.

"It doesn't take a stretch of people's imaginations to know these programs are not adequately funded," said Howard, 52, who teaches math at Wiregrass and coaches cross country and boys' track.

Howard, a coffee-brown eyed man who became a runner after a thyroid condition caused him to gain weight, founded the Wiregrass Running Club with Ketchum several months ago as the two found themselves crossing paths in the Summerbrooke village of Meadow Pointe.

One evening while the pair pounded the pavement, they decided that running for themselves wasn't enough anymore They wanted to help the community.

How about a race to benefit the two schools' athletic programs?

The pair brainstormed by recalling what they liked best about the races they had run. Nice T-shirts, trophies. Tasty snacks and goody bags. A flat, smooth course. Lots of sponsors to keep entry fees affordable.

The result: The Long Run at the Ranch set for Jan. 13 at Long Middle School.

It's going to be more than just a race. The cheerleaders and band's percussion section will perform, and prizes will be given. Those who don't run much can walk in the 1-mile family fun run. All kids 17 and younger will get ribbons for completing the course.

So far about 50 runners have registered. The club hopes to raise at least $500 for each school's program.

Howard points out that even though he coaches running sports at Wiregrass, the money can be spent on any sport, and he isn't making those decisions. (His only child, daughter Whitney, is in college, so there's no ulterior motive.)

"We just want to be able to say 'Hey, we did something. We did something good,' " he said.

A sense of community already is starting to happen naturally. New schools are drawing from a smaller geographic area, and new neighborhood restaurants are drawing regulars who chat over coffee, lunch or an after-work beer.

An organized event is a logical next step. Just ask Val Thomopalos, who helped start Athletes Who Care in Land O'Lakes and who organized its first Babes and Bums triathlon in 2004.

"It becomes a social event. It's a lot of fun," said Thomopalos, who knows Howard. "I'm so glad to hear they are doing that. My hat's off to those guys."

Ditto.

Lisa Buie is the editor of the central/east Pasco Times. She can be reached at (813) 909-4607 or toll free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4607.

Hit the road

WHAT: Inaugural Long Run at the Ranch

WHEN: Jan. 13. 5K starts at 8:30 a.m.; 1-mile family fun run starts at 9:15 a.m. Race day registration starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:15 a.m.

WHERE: John Long Middle School, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel

HOW MUCH: Adults, $13 if received before Jan. 5, $18 if after; Children 17 and younger, $10. Make checks payable to Wiregrass Ranch Athletic Booster Club. Entry forms and checks should be mailed to 1227 Horsemint Lane, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543.

INFO: Register online at www.active.com. Forms also may be obtained at Juice Zone, Beef O'Brady's, and Century Kia.

[Last modified December 22, 2006, 20:21:52]