Schools

Run For It! First-Ever Half-Marathon to Benefit Local Schools Hits Pleasanton on Sunday

Money goes to Pleasanton Partnerships in Education, or PPIE.

Have you ever felt the electricity of the final moments just before a running race is about to begin?

Do you know what it’s like to enjoy the sense of achievement of running over 13 miles, conquering your challenge with a final sprint toward the cheering and encouraging faces and voices of your friends and family?

You’ll have a chance to do both at the Sports Park, 5800 Parkside Drive, this Sunday at the first-ever Pleasanton Half Marathon and 5k (about three miles) Family “Fund” Run, to benefit Pleasanton’s local schools through .

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When I first met Event Director Ryan Coelho and Glenn Schiavo, Events Logistics Manager for USA Productions, the organization behind Sunday’s race, I was impressed and instantly became invested in their vision.

They are obviously two bright, motivated and ambitious men who have a passion and a sense of conviction about making this fledgling event a huge success. If their Facebook followers and number of registrants are any indication, it will indeed meet that expectation.

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I contacted them about a month ago to see if I could be of any assistance in helping advance the awareness of the event in the community. We met two days later and sat on the floor of my studio and discussed how we could partner with them (along with several other local businesses like Fleet Feet , Sports Plus and  Pleasanton Nursing and Rehabilitation) to help get the word out. Like all good business people who see an opportunity to help both the community and the local economy while advancing the cause they’re passionate about, both men were open-minded, generous and creative about looking for win-win opportunities for all concerned.

An event like this can’t happen without a lot of hard work and the support of the local small business community and city services. Finding the right route was a challenge but the final start and end point, the Pleasanton Sports Park, seems like the perfect home base. Sunday’s forecast of sunny and low 60s in the morning should make for perfect race-day conditions.

The after-party should be a blast as well. With lots of booths – Tri Valley Trainer will have one – food and live music, the fun family atmosphere will be a great complement to the post-race elation as the runners trickle across the finish line.

Ryan told me how significant this day is to him personally:

“Living in Pleasanton, it means a lot to me to be able to create and manage events in my home town. Our goal is to include the small and medium-sized business owners to create a positive economic impact from the event on the City of Pleasanton while promoting health and wellness around the community."

Details about the race can be found here.

Want to talk in-person? I’m usually at the studio http://trivalleytrainer.com/ and can always be reached at Dan@TriValleyTrainer.com .


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