Prince William Turns out for Fun Run Racing's Firecracker Run

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Fun Run Racing’s very first event, Freedom Firecracker 5K, exceeded expectations with a large, spirited turnout on July 4th.

Rob Dulin, Patriot High School coach and teacher, and Ian Connor, owner of The Running Store, intended the Fun Run Racing Series events to bring the community together. The two running enthusiasts hoped to provide Prince William runners with a race close to home that would also serve as an entertaining event for the whole family.

On the Fourth of July, their vision was realized. Runners of all ages from around Prince William County gathered at the starting line outside of the Freedom Center on George Mason University's  Manassas campus. They dressed in patriotic red, white and blue, and some wore spirited Independence Day costumes.

When the gun went off, it was evident just how many runners were participating as it took a few minutes for all participants to pass the starting line. Family and friends, who remained behind, celebrated with lively music, costumes, food and friends.

Dana Smith’s two little boys, Elliot and William, danced along to the music.

“This song is from the LEGO Movie,” Elliot said.

Smith said that she was there to support her husband, Marcus, who was running. Marcus, who frequents The Running Store, was eager to participate in Fun Run Racing’s first event, she explained.

Nearby, Roy Loso was in the spirit of the holiday, wearing a “Reagan, Bush '84” tank-top. With him sat his two dogs, Ferguson and Maddie. Loso and Ferguson were looking patriotic in the red statue of liberty headbands the race series had provided.

Loso said his wife, Jen, was running with a friend, and he thought he’d have a good time by dressing for the event.

Runners also dressed in patriotic colors and costumes.

Catherine Hall, of Franciscan University in Ohio, attended with two of her friends from John Paul the Great High School. Hall dressed as Superwoman. Her friend, college student Catherine Lyon, wore red, white and blue shorts, and Lyon’s sister, Josephine, wore a Spiderwoman t-shirt.

“We love to run,” said Hall, noting while they did not break any records, they all crossed the finish line in under 30 minutes.

Catherine Lyon, who runs both track and cross-country, explained that running, “is an easy thing to do, but not easily done,” which is what keeps it challenging.

In purple and blue tie-dye, Cristina Wittlinger and Tina McIntyre stood out as they cheered on their friend Matt Spinosa.

Wittlinger explained there were “two reasons” they were running in the event.

First, it was to memorialize Nancy Barbara Spinosa, who recently passed away. The second was to help Nancy’s son Matt reach his health and fitness goals.

Other runners ran in full costume, trying to win a prize.

Ashleigh Iszard of Bristow looked like a very patriotic Betsy Ross, wearing a colonial dress constructed of stars and stripes.

“I wanted a prize, and I wasn’t going to win for the fastest runner,” she said. “Plus, you have to get in the Fourth of July spirit.”

Iszard said the race was fun, especially because she ran with some friends with whom she had recently completed her first half marathon. After that 13-mile race, she saw the 5K as a fun activity they could do together to reward themselves for all of their training

Dan Marvin, another runner, said he was very happy with the course, which was not too steep.

Marvin said he shops at The Running Store, so he wanted to support them by participating in the run.

Next to the tent where they were giving out prize gift-certificates to The Running Store, Lisa Grant posed for a photo with a large group of people dressed in red, white and blue. They included her husband, her teenage children and some of their friends.

“We love a local 5K,” she said. “It’s a fun thing to do with the whole family.”

Grant said she would “definitely” participate in another one of Fun Run Racing's runs, and wants to invite more friends and neighbors to sign up next time.

Back at the food tent, Sheryl Roberts handed out water, ice-pops and bananas, and talked about how much fun everyone seemed to be having.

“We’re in the training program and it’s just fantastic,” Roberts explained.

As she was greeting runners, a gentleman came up to her.

“I’m surprised it was their first year,” he said, “because this was so well organized.”

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