Beef's St Pat's 5K, a side note from Clem

 

Running can make you feel good about yourself but you’ll be hard pressed to find a running event offering as many positive vibes as the Beef O’Brady’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K walk/run.

 

The March 13th 5K offers participants five ways to feel good about themselves:

 

Cheer on local law enforcement: For the first time this year, the Centerville Police Department is co-sponsor of the Saturday morning event. And be on the look out! You may be jogging alongside one of Centerville’s finest during the race.

 

Support a great cause: All proceeds from this year’s race benefit Special Olympics of Ohio. Centerville PD took up Special Olympics as a charity over 10 years ago when officers began participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

 

Go green: As the name suggests, the walk/run is done with St. Patrick’s Day in mind. So have some fun and go “green” in the original sense of the word. Erin Go Bragh!

 

Enjoy good times: Race sponsor Beef O’Brady’s is known for good times and good food and the 5K will start and end at the restaurant.

 

Be neighborly: After departing Beef O’Brady’s, the flat course will roll along the avenues and boulevards of Centerville and Washington Twp. neighborhoods, where friends, family and classmates will shout out encouragement to joggers and sprinters alike.

 

Other sponsors for this year’s event are Miami Valley Hospital South, Fast Signs, the Fenstermaker Agency, Bill’s Donut Shop, Mound Printing Co. Inc., Channel 2 WDTN, Centerville Service Center and Family Electric, and Kroger’s.

 

Cost is $10 for students, $15 for adults. Pre-race registration deadline is March 3 to guarantee a t-shirt. Race day registration is $20 for all and will take place from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. at Beef O’Brady’s. Race begins at 9 a.m.

Clement Boyd

 

                                                                  

top row, l-r, Janice, Linda and Michael McCloskey,                                                l-r, Linda, Michael and Jim McCloskey

bottom row, Holly the dog and Jim McCloskey

 

And now the rest of the story:

For a Special Olympics family whose blood runs green, this Saturday’s Beef O’Brady’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K stood out like a four-leaf clover.

 

The 3.1 mile walk/run will start at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Beef O’Brady’s, 953 S. Main St., Centerville, and wend its way through the neighborhoods of Centerville and Washington Twp. before returning to the restaurant. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics of Ohio.

 

Michael McCloskey, 20, of Washington Twp. has been active with Special Olympics since he was 10, participating in track and field, bowling, basketball and swimming. McCloskey, who will finish at Centerville High School next year, went to the state Special Olympics contest in bowling last year.

 

McCloskey’s mom, Linda, is a runner who was planning on another St. Patty’s Day 5K when she learned about the Beef O’Brady’s race.

 

“This is more than racing for the race’s sake, it helps a great cause,” Linda said. “Especially when you have a family member who participates, you try to do what you can to offer support.”

 

Linda has run a number of 5Ks in the area, as well as half-marathons, but this is the first time husband Jim signed up for a 5K. “Linda saw this the other day and asked me if I’d do it for Special Olympics.” noted Jim, owner of C&M Rubber Co. of Dayton. “But I’ll be walking; I’m not a runner.”

 

Daughter Janice, a senior art major at Ashland University, won’t be able to participate this year. However, always supportive of her brother, Janice organized a team for the Walk Now for Autism fundraiser in Columbus last fall. Michael is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

 

While Michael won’t be running, he will be riding a tandem bike with a family friend in support of mom and dad. “Gross motor skills are his strength,” Linda said. “Michael can ride 20 miles on a bike in 45 minutes to an hour. Fine motor is where he has problems – speech, tying shoes, buttoning buttons. Autism is a neurological disorder.”

 

In spite of his challenges, Michael has been a big supporter of various charities, participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk and raising money for the American Cancer Society, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The American Diabetes Association.

 

Centerville High School special education teacher Karen Chapman nominated Michael for the Council for Exceptional Children/Ohio “Yes I Can” award last year, which he won for involvement in extra-curricular activities.

 

The McCloskeys, as the name suggests, have one more tie to the Beef’s race. “Jim’s Irish; in fact his middle name is Patrick,” Linda shared. “What a great way for us to kick off St. Patrick’s Day events. We’ll be wearing our green – sweatshirts or t-shirts, depending on the weather. We don’t want to get pinched!”

 

This is the first Beef O’Brady’s St. Pat’s Day 5K but the first time it benefits Special Olympics of Ohio. The Centerville Police Department is a supporter of the 5K this year and long-time supporters of Special Olympics through the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

 

In addition to sponsoring the race Saturday morning, Centerville officers will cannonball, jackknife and otherwise immerse themselves in 42-degree water on Saturday afternoon at Watson’s Pool, 2590 E. Whipp Rd. as part of the Polar Plunge, another Special Olympics fundraiser.

 

Polar Plunge registration begins at 10 a.m. with costume contest at 12:15. Plunge begins at 12:30. Barleycorn’s, 6204 Wilmington Pike, will host a post-plunge party. For more information contact Paige Ludwig at palsooh@aol.com or call 614-239-7050.

 

Cost for the Beef O’Brady’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K is $10 for students, $15 for adults through March 3. Pre-race registration guarantees a t-shirt. Cost goes up to $20 after the 3rd through race day, March 13. Race day registration will take place from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. at Beef O’Brady’s restaurant, 953 S. Main St., Centerville. Race starts at 9 a.m.

 

To register, make checks payable to Special Olympics Ohio and mail or drop off at the Centerville Police Department, 155 W. Spring Valley Rd, Centerville, Ohio 45458. You can also register online at www.active.com/running/centerville-oh/beef-obradys-st-pats-5k-2010. Results will be posted at www.keysports.net.