By Tom Vaught
sun staff writer

HOLMES BEACH – It was a beautiful morning for a run last Saturday when the Anna Maria Elementary School PTO held its first Dolphin Dash 5K and 1-mile runs.

According to race coordinator Becky Walter, the 5K race drew 125 runners, many of them from the Bradenton Runner’s Club, which helped organize and time the event. The second race, a 1-mile event, drew around 50 runners.

"This was a great first-time event," said Bradenton Runner’s Club Race organizer Palmer Orehowsky. "Elyn Hart and Becky Walter were the organizers from the PTO and they did a great job. We had complete cooperation from the Holmes Beach Police Department and the West Manatee Fire and Rescue, plus the Manatee High School Key Club and the Ma’amselles.

"Our club had a lot of people out here too," he added. "We had a timer at each intersection."

Hart called it a fabulous turnout.

"We had gorgeous weather and a lot of runners came to compete," she said. "All of our sponsors came through for us. It was just a fun time."

More students ran in the one-mile event than the Five-K, since it was shorter. During the weeks leading up to the Dolphin Dash, students were encouraged to train for the one-mile run. Organizers from the PTO and the Bradenton Runners Club said they hoped this event would start a trend toward more exercise by the students and they looked forward to holding it again next year.