PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Hundreds of runners set out to complete a 5K today at the first ever Fit at 5K in Portland.
Once the runners were off, all their nerves vanished and their adrenaline kicked in as they ran the 3.1 mile course along Back Cove. Most of the runners had never run in a race before, but after months of training, their hard work paid off. At the finish line, there were a lot of smiles and high fives as people realized what they had accomplished.
"It's because of Maine Running. Maine Running was patient with me and we started. She ran the rest of the race with me. We did it. We did it. My sister, she runs four miles a day and she did this with me, so we did it," Lucia Lank, first time runner, said.
"I wasn't expecting the adrenaline to do as much as it did. It really kicked in, and I could just keep going," Nancy Basham, first time runner, said.
Money raised in the race will go toward Special Olympics Maine. The organization will use the cash to finance a year-round athletic training program for people with disabilities.
Top 3 Overall Men Finishers:
Andrew Klaft, Litchfield - 23:37
Phil Allard, Raymond - 23:56
Jim Houghtaling - 24:13
Top 3 Overall Women Finishers:
Kimberly Marcotte, Falmouth - 24:01
Deidre Cutter, New Gloucester - 24:41
Sarah Gardner, Portland - 25:06
NEWS CENTER