A record registration and more than 4,630 finishers, most adorned in some shade of pink, highlighted a beautiful Saturday morning in the 23rd annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5K.
Huntsville’s biggest 5K is held each October. It has raised more than $8.5 million to support the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund at Huntsville Hospital Foundation. Hurley, a popular and longtime journalist and news anchor for WAFF-TV 48, established the fund in 1999 after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The money has helped purchase critical equipment for the hospital to diagnose and treat those battling breast cancer.
Some 6,450 registered for this year’s event, furthering the fundraising efforts along with contributions from myriad sponsors. An annual golf tournament chips in more. Runners, joggers, walkers and toodlers made their way from the intersection of Lowe and Gallatin to a left on Madison, which took them on a familiar route through Old Huntsville. The course routed back on Adams, then right on Lowe and back to the finish.
A raucous crowd greeted the Survivor’s Walk participants and runners coming through the finish line chute. Hurley sent the field off with unending smiles, waves and shoutouts, and cheers greeted everyone coming in.
Heath Varmette, 24, of Huntsville, handily won the race in 16:39, pacing a top-of-field crew of speedsters. The top 175 runners broke 25 minutes, and the next 190 or so broke 27 minutes. A 9-minute clip is pretty spicy with another 4,130 coming behind at various speeds. Check out all of the results here.
Most, however, enjoyed the walk and sunshine. The Ribbon Run is, yes, a race with timing and certified course. But for many it’s also a celebration of a successful battle, perhaps a life well lived and bittersweet battle fought. It’s a pink-hued river of memories and smiles, bras hanging on a power line (they get removed!), funny signs about boobies and ta-tas, young and old, all genders, cheers and a few tears.
