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Immaculate Heart hosts Fun Run
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .The race began with a buzzer, and the first few moments of the run showed standout runners already in the lead.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Will Sandy (left) helped out his son A.J. Sandy by running alongside him during the Kid's Run.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .St. Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary track coach Nicole Strollo (left) supported former student Jerica Day as Day prepared for her first marathon.
By SARAH FOOR
For about one hour on the evening of June 9, the only sounds that could be heard on the streets of Norquest Boulevard was that of deep breaths and feet hitting the pavement.
During the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s eighth annual Fun Run, Mahoning Valley runners took over the streets near St. Joseph and Immaculate Heart School during its 28th annual parish festival. The Fun Run is organized by Robert Klempay, who finds that it is now an important part of the annual parish festival.
“I think it’s amazing that the runners get Norquest Boulevard all to themselves during our run. It’s a great course through a beautiful neighborhood,” Klempay noted.
“I don’t think about myself much during the run, because today is really about everyone involved and all the people of all ages who get out there. I’m very glad it’s an Immaculate Heart tradition and I’m honored it’s a part of the festival.”
The runners in the event came from as far away as Cleveland, while others were coming back to visit their old elementary school.
Nicole Strollo supported Jerica Day, who was a first-time participant in the Fun Run. Strollo taught Day in track when she was a student at SJIHM.
“I’ve been a runner since fifth grade and I was lucky to have her as my coach. I used to go to school here and I’m a member of the church, so I’m excited to be part of my first race.”
Strollo managed to be both supportive and competitive with her former student.
“We’re here to support each other, of course. But it is still a race, after all,” Strollo said with a smile.
The event showed a love for running that spanned generations.
During the opening Kid’s Run, Will Sandy ran along with his 5-year-old son, A.J.
“We’ve been running since he was about a year old, and I think we’ll always be runners,” Sandy said.