by Frank Schroth

Best Buddies cheering section

Sure it was a little on the chilly side but the sun was out and so was the crowd to run & walk in the Milton 5K Gobbler for Best Buddies. Almost five hundred folks ran the race and several hundred more walked. Mark Brissette of Roslindale finished first with a time of 16:38 (whoa!). The first place woman was Clare Martin of Newton with a time of 18:54 (sheesh!). But most important of all, according to web site, the event raised over $45,000 for a great organization.

There was a lot to like about the event not the least of which was a nifty cheering section at the finish line. Below are some shots of this energetic, ad hoc welcome wagon greeting runners as they came to the end. They were a special group that inserted a bit of fun and enthusiasm just where it was needed. Congrats all. You can find complete race results here. (Click on an image for a larger view.)