More than 5,000 people turned out for Weston Rotary's first-ever Get Fit Festival and our 13th Annual Run for Tomorrow, presented by Billy Beck III Personal Performance & Training Center. Nearly 2,000 runners gathered at Weston Town Center before dawn to run in the 5K and Half-Marathon races, a record number of entries.

Both races started at the same time, heading out from Town Center Drive on two separate courses across Weston. Half-marathoners sped west on Royal Palm Blvd, while the 5K-ers wrapped around Town Center on Three Village Drive.

The two courses met up at the intersection of Royal Palm and Bonaventure Blvds. By that point, half-marathoners had completed more than 8 miles of their 13-mile trek. Runners in both races reached their turnaround points on Bonaventure, then began heading back to Town Center for the finish. Runners turned onto Main St. greeted by hundreds of spectators who lined the street, as did more than 40 vendors for the Get Fit Festival. it was an exciting spectacle for the runners as they crossed the finish line, especially for the hundreds of elementary school boys and girls (and their parents) who participated in the Mayor's Get Fit Challenge Cup competition (won by Manatee Bay Elementary School).

Meanwhile, while runners by the hundreds crossed the finish line over the next three hours, the 2nd annual Huntington Learning Center Mind, Body, Spirit Challenge took place, ably administrated by Weston Rotarians Bob Harms and Julian Gazzano. Western High School took home the trophy, emblematic of superior physical and academic team performance.

As the race ended, the Rotary volunteer crew swung into action, turning Main Street into a midway of activities. More than 45 exhibitors signed up to participate in Weston's first-ever Get Fit Fest. Dozens of health and fitness related businesses exhibited their company's products and services along Main St. Hundreds of young people showed off their skills in gymnastics, martial arts, dance and other activities on the main stage.

We were motivated by Florida's strongest man, weightlifting champion LeBron Grimes and we were wowed by the famous Miami Heat Dancers. Kids played on a real-grass football field on Bell Tower Lane and played games provided by the Marlins, Panthers and Dolphins. And, hundreds of people took up the Billy Beck Superman/Superwoman Challenge, pushing a Hummer and pulling a Smart car up and down the street!

It was a wonderful day from start to finish. Congratulations to all the participants and thank you to the more than 75 companies who sponsored or participated in Get Fit Weston and the Run for Tomorrow. And thanks, especially to the more than 300 people who volunteered on race day; Rotarians, spouses, students and friends of our club who did hundreds of jobs, large and small, to insure our biggest event of the year came off without a hitch.

So, mark the date down right now: Sunday, December 11, 2011 for the 14th Annual Rotary Run and 2nd annual Get Fit Fest. And, stay tuned for updated information on additional Get Fit Weston activities scheduled for the coming months.