After crushing the field in 16:40, Lakewood Ranch's David Proudfoot was asked why he decided to come back to the Run for the Beads Feb. 10 at Waterside Place when he dominated the 5K race a year ago.
"I like that this race is specific to Lakewood Ranch," Proudfoot said. "We have so many races at Nathan Benderson Park, so it's good that runners can mix it up, and have something in their community, for the community."
The race benefits the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation which in turn grants funds to area nonprofits.
Run for the Beads Co-Chair David Ahrens said he was thrilled to be a part of the event.
"First of all, this is about the pleasure of doing something that helps the community," said Ahrens, who also helps to put together the Turkey Trot in the Lake Club. "This is truly a public event while the Lake Club event is more of a private event. This race helps the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation with its branding. It also raises some good awareness of Waterside Place, so it's a win-win. It is just one more reason to come here and to experience this beautiful place."
Ahrens, who competes in triathlons, said he expects the race to grow in the future to where it hosts 800-1,000 runners.
"As an athlete, I love this race because it has a grass roots feel, and that's more personal," he said.
Lakewood Ranch's Steve and Laura Saladino finished the race holding hands, then said they expect to be back every year.
"We hope to be legacy runners," Steve Saladino said.
"It's local, it's positive, it's great," Laura Saladino said.
Lakewood Ranch's Steve and Laura Saladino finish the Run for the Beads together. Steve says Laura, who married him 31 years ago, "is still trying to get away," but she can't run fast enough.
Photo by Jay Heater
Run for the Beads Co-Chair David Ahrens gets ready to hand out race medals.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bradenton's Melissa Ruiz and University Park's Denise Trothe check out their race t-shirts.
Photo by Jay Heater
Run for the Beads Co-Chair Saul Zuchman says "We feel good we are going to give the runners a great experience."
Photo by Jay Heater
Mike Schenk of Pineapple Kitchen shows off the pastries specially made for the Run for the Beads race at Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
Waterside's Ed Polishuk and Bonnie Polishuk have a little fun before the race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Sabrina Scrivanich and Joan Scrivanich showed their Mardi Gras spirit before the race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Waterside's Emma Sands, 4, and Isla Sands, 2, are ready for the start of Run for the Beads.
Photo by Jay Heater
LakeHouse Cove's Josh Potts, Karen DiPietro and Keagan DiPietro show off their energy before the start of the race at Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
East County 6-year-old Valentina Hilliard won the age group 4-8 kids race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Abbie Forrest shows off his medal for winning the 9-13 age group race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Hadley Smith, 9, shows off her medal in front of proud parents Jen and Erick Smith.
Photo by Jay Heater
Butch, Emmersyn, Sawyer and Lindsay Ogden can't wait until the start of the Run for the Beads at Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
Besides the 5K race/walk, Run for the Beads also included a costume contest and Jason Miller, Amy Lowrance, Sophie Lowrance, and Haley Hartman looked perfect for the Mardi Gras theme.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch 3-year-old Claire Garcia tries a different method during Limbo. DJ Jose Ramirez, holding the Limbo bar, donated his services for the second consecutive year.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch 11-year-old Harper Profito gives her sister, 3-year-old Ellie Profito, a place to sit before the race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Summer Garcia, the general manager of BodyBar Pilates at Waterside, helps the runners stretch out before the start of the race.
Photo by Jay Heater
Runners burst out of the gate for the start of the second annual Run for the Beads, presented by the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.
Photo by Jay Heater
Nyda Bittmann Neville, who serves on the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation board of directors, gets ready to hand out a race t-shirt at Waterside Place.
Photo by Jay Heater
Race volunteer Bee Storm gets together with Run for the Beads Co-Chair David Ahrens before they hand out medals to the runners.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's David Proudfoot crosses the finish line in 16:40 to win the Run for the Beads for the second consecutive year.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Rosemary Selke, a junior at Cardinal Mooney High, was the top female finisher in Run for the Beads.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota 7-year-old Cooper Robenalt had to finish the Run for the Beads in a hurry because he had to play football later in the day.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Sabrina Scrivanich celebrates at the end of the Run for the Beads.
Photo by Jay Heater
Waterlefe's Mary Cooke looks relieved to finish. "It was hot, but it's a lot of fun," she said.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bradenton's Stephanie Cooley crosses the finish line of Run for the Beads. She said every race medal represents an accomplishment to her since she has lost 140 pounds.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Board Members Nancy Sykes, Nicole Ryskamp and Lorri Kidder work the registration desk before Run for the Beads Feb. 10 at Waterside Place.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
