By Katie Mayock, Sports Journalism Intern (Photos: Katie Mayock)
LatinosRun is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a 5K Run and Walk, hosted in partnership with Fleet Feet and powered by Strava. LatinosRun invites everyone to participate, whether to show pride for their own Latino heritage or to celebrate their Latino friends, family, and community members.
The race format includes in-person group runs at select Fleet Feet locations around the country and also a virtual option. Participants who choose the virtual option can run anytime, anyplace, and at any pace from now until October 15th. Virtual participants receive an online bib and can share their time on Strava to connect with a community of fellow racers. Registration is free and comes with the option to donate to LatinosRun, either by donating directly or by purchasing additional race swag, including shirts, visors, and medals.
In Pittsburgh, the in-person group run took place on Monday, September 23rd at Fleet Feet Bakery Square, marking the second straight year putting on an in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the introduction of the virtual format. About 35 runners turned out to run the 5K and celebrate their own Latino roots or that of their friends, family, and other community members.
Runners gathered at Fleet Feet Bakery Square, enjoyed a scenic run through East Liberty, and then returned to the shop to socialize with their fellow runners, enjoy delicious pastries from Dulce Amor Latino Bakery, and browse offerings from local Latino-owned vendors Minimo, a jewelry company, and Costa RicART, which sells handcrafted goods made from repurposed materials.
In addition, Fleet Feet Bakery Square donated 10% of their proceeds from the day of the race (Sept. 23) to the Latino Community Center (LCC). The LCC is a local non-profit whose mission is to empower, advocate for, and celebrate Latinos in the Pittsburgh area. Representatives from the LCC were on-site to share information about the center’s initiatives, accept donations, and express their gratitude to the runners before they headed out the door.
If you are interested in participating in the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month 5K Run and Walk to celebrate the Latino community, you can find more information and sign up here.
