A lucky break

A Change of Pace Foundation’s second annual Lucky Run had a lucky break this year on Saint Patrick’s Day. With no rain, participants ran either a 7K, 7 Mile, or Lucky 13 Half Marathon around the Davis Community Park and DHS in the chilly morning, on March 17.

Runners from all over, including UC Davis graduate April Malvino from Concord and friend Carissa Bergman, came to Davis dressed up for the Irish-inspired event. “It’s always fun to dress up for a holiday run and to stay in shape,” Bergman said.

Malvino and Bergman agreed that they wanted to run the 7K so they “can drink more beer tonight” and celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

Dave Miramontes, the executive director of A Change of Pace Foundation, helped manage and coordinate the 2012 Lucky Run. “We have designed each of our distances to key off lucky numbers seven and 13. With typical run distances set at a 5K or 10K, our 7K and 7 mile distances break up the norm,” Miramontes said.

A Change of Pace Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Davis, produces the Lucky Run and other events year long in an effort to carry on their mission statement: to encourage, educate and motivate kids to inspire life-long habits towards a healthy lifestyle.

“While funding enables us to produce top quality fitness related community events such as this, our foundation provides free fitness programs, free equipment, event scholarships and education to various schools throughout the region to help increase fitness levels,” Miramontes said.

The next event the foundation is planning is the Capital City Classic taking place in Downtown Sacramento on April 22, the race is a 5K and 10K run that provides terrific views of the capital and the Sacramento River.