28th Annual Moonlight Run
Friday Sept. 28 7PM
5K Walk, 5K & 10K Run
G
Veronica Weber
Veronica Weber
Runners in the 10K race at the Moonlight Run and Walk reach the finish line on Sept. 9, 2011.
rab your shoes and strap on your head lamp, because it’s time to celebrate the 28th annual Palo Alto Weekly Moonlight Run & Walk. The Palo Alto tradition, which includes 10K and 5K runs and a 5K walk, will take place in the Baylands on Friday, Sept. 28. After last year’s lightning-lit race, runners and sponsors from around the Bay Area are charged up to take a crack at the run. As always, the proceeds benefit the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund for local charitable organizations. This section contains a schedule, map, last year’s results, this year’s volunteers and a feature that looks into the race’s place as a kick-off for the Palo Alto Grand Prix. Ready, set, run! N
Sheldon Wesley of NoXcuses Fitness leads a warm-up for 5K walkers at last year’s Moonlight Run on Sept. 9.
Start your engines Moonlight Run to kick off Palo Alto Grand Prix series by Eric Van Susteren
“
biggest race so people can come find out about the other opportunities throughout the year,” said MacFalls, who is also the director for the Running of the Bulls race. “The Moonlight Run is like the quintessential Palo Alto race, so people can come and learn about the Prix and about the other races that are a part of it.” Proceeds from each of the races will go to assorted charities. The Moonlight Run is the first event in the Palo Alto Weekly’s annual Holiday Fund drive, which last year raised more than $350,000 for local nonprofits serving families and kids. The Marsh Madness race on Oct. 27 supports the YMCA; the Nov. 11 Home Run gives to Habitat for Humanity; March 2’s Juana Run proceeds go to local public schools; the Running of the Bulls race on May 12 raises funds for Gunn and A Foundation for Building Strength; and some of the Prix’s overall proceeds go to the Bay
Veronica Weber
Run fast, and run often.” That’s the message Palo Alto Grand Prix organizer Nick MacFalls wants to instill in local runners — particularly kids — with the annual race series. And when the gun fires to start off the Moonlight Run on Sept. 28, it won’t be the beginning of just the 28-year-old nighttime race. Runners — some of them unwittingly — will also be participating in the first leg of a local race series that spans six months and five separate races. This will be the first time that the Moonlight Run, the most popular of the five races, will begin the series, which also consists of Marsh Madness, Juana Run, the Home Run and the Running of the Bulls. The organizers hope to improve participation in each of the five races by starting the series in September with the Moonlight Run instead of in March. “We wanted to start this year off with our
Runners take off for the 10K run at last year’s Moonlight Run. Area Track Club. MacFalls said the Prix and its races are about more than just fundraising — they’re valuable to the community as well.
“I just think it’s great to have something active for the community to do,” he said. (continued on next page)
ÜÜÜ°*> Ì " i°V ÊUÊ*> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ-i«Ìi LiÀÊÓ£]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 29