A Spirited Day In The Park [PHOTOS]
Thousands gathered Sunday at Elmer Thomas Park for the 10th annual Spirit of Survival Marathon, 5k, Kids Super Marathon and Spirit Walk.
It was a perfect day for the event, an annual fundraiser for the Spirit of Survival and the Comanche County Memorial Hospital's Cancer Unit. The day featured a Half Marathon, a kids Marathon and the final event of the day, the Spirit Walk.
Camille Herron and Brandon Gardner won the women's and men's divisions of the Half Marathon, while Sydney Montgomery and Adam Scott were the women's and men's division winners of the Quarter Marathon. The 5k divisions were won on the female side by a runner known only as the mysterious Runner #1801 and the men's division title went to Kaleb Tipton.There was also a Super Kids Marathon and the Spirit Walk, which featured hundred of cancer survivors and supporters, including myself, coming together to complete the day's event.
The gathering came off as the most successful in the 10 year history of the Spirit of Survival. There were registrants across the divisions from 25 states as well as Germany, Australia and Canada.
The weekend's events kicked off Friday with the Yes You Can luncheon, featuring guest speaker Dick Hoyt, a runner and motivational speaker, who, with his son Rick make up the famous Team Hoyt. The two have competed in numerous and varied sporting events including marathons and iron man triathalons, despite Rick suffering celebral palsy. Dick pushes Rick through the competitions using boats, trikes and wheel chairs.