The 30th Annual Brookline Breeze 5K Fitness Run and Walk was held on Saturday, August 13, 2011. Nearly 650 runners and walkers came to Brookline Memorial Park to participate in what has become an August tradition here in the Brookline community.

Planning of the commemorative running began back in January. Twenty-six corporate and local merchants signed on as sponsors. The 2011 banner was first seen during the Memorial Day Parade on May 30. Shortly afterwards, registrations began.

Brookline Park's Breeze Week festivities kicked into high gear on Friday night, with the 6th Annual Breeze Car Cruise, hosted by the Brookline Memorial Recreation Center. While a steady crowd roamed the park to see the variety of classic vehicles on display, the package pickup and late registrations began in the gymnasium.

As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, Breeze organizers added a dog walk as part of the one-mile Mini-Breeze. Several dog owners brought along their furry friends for a short jog around the block. All registered dogs received a bandana while all walkers and runners received a commemorative t-shirt.

The Mini-Breeze began at 8:30am. Ten year old Jack Motznik crossed the finish line well ahead of the pack with a time of 5:56. The first pooch to cross the line was "Missy", accompanied by her owner Zachary Adamerovich.

The 5K starting gun sounded at 9:00am and the crowd of Breeze participants began their advance up Brookline Boulevard. As the sixteen minute mark drew near, the top runners approached the finish line. Mark Grogan, a native Pittsburgher now living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, crossed first with a time of 15:59. Two minutes later, two-time defending female champion Jessica Zozos of Glenshaw made it three-in-a-row with a time of 18:10. The top local runner was Pittsburgh Firefighter Ed Hurley, who chimed in at the 19:00 mark.

The Awards Presentation began as the final walkers reached the park. Before announcing the winners, a special presentation was made to two of the founding fathers of the Brookline Breeze, Citiparks Director Mike Radley and Dan O'Brien, who both put on their running shoes and proved they still have the right stuff! Once the trophy presentation and gift prize raffle concluded, the band Yinzide Out belted out a few more classic numbers before calling it a morning.

This was a year for new twists. For the past three years, Brookline merchants have held the Boulevard BreezeFest, a sidewalk sale and stroll to complement the Breeze activities. The Community Festival attractions, that for the past several years have been in Brookline Park, were moved to locations along the Boulevard to enhance the festive atmosphere on Brookline's main artery. From 10am to 5pm the Boulevard was alive with food, games, rides and plenty of bargains in the many tents that lined the walkway.

It was another fantastic day to Breeze through Brookline. The community would like to thank all of the Breeze participants, Citiparks Director Mike Radley, Race-Director Clint Burton, Debbie Brust, the Citiparks Special Events staff and Soundcrew, the Brookline Recreation Center Staff, and the many volunteers who came to help. Special thanks to our many corporate and community sponsors, whose generous assistance will ensure that the Brookline Breeze tradition continues to flourish.

<Race Results>

<Dormont-Brookline Patch Video and Photos of the Brookline Breeze>
Thank You Daniel Nephin, editor of the Dormont-Brookline Patch

Note: A local correspondent was granted access to the Brookline firehouse tower to capture some images of the race from above. The photos of the inside of the century-old tower and the rolling Brookline hills were worth the effort.

Click on images below for larger photos

* Photos provided by Clint Burton, Doug Brendel and John Malicky *