The 31st Annual Brookline Breeze 5K Fitness Run and Walk, along with the One Mile Mini-Breeze Fun Run and Dog Walk, was held on Saturday, August 11, 2012. Over 800 runners and walkers came to Brookline Park to participate in what has become an August tradition in the Brookline community. With the temperature near the 70 degree mark and a cool breeze in the air, it was a wonderful day for a morning run or a brisk walk through the heart of town.

Planning for the 31st running began months before. With a redesigned official webpage, www.brooklinebreeze.com, and a Breeze Facebook Page helping to spread the word, the Breeze committee hoped to surpass 2011's total of 645 registrants. With twenty-six corporate, civic and local sponsors providing support, the 2012 Breeze preparations kicked into gear in May. The 2012 banner was first seen at the Memorial Day Parade on May 28. Shortly afterwards, applications began flowing in.

While the Breeze Week Car Cruise at the Community Center contributed to the pre-race festivities on the eve of the run, registrations rose to 650. A strong race-day turnout pushed that total above the 800 mark, an increase of over 160 from the past year. The Brookline Breeze focuses on fitness and healthy lifestyles. This was an encouraging sign in the city-wide campaign to promote an awareness of physical fitness for people of all ages.

The One-mile Mini-Breeze Fun Run began at 8:30am, followed shortly afterwards by the Dog Walk. Eleven-year old Jack Motznik crossed the finish line first with a time of 6:06. It was Jack's second year in a row as Mini-Breeze winner. He was followed by nine-year old Ethan Roberts, of Austin, Texas, and eleven-year old Connor Thompson.

This year, the 5K event featured an appearance by the Keystone Young Marines, who provided a Color Guard at the start of the race. Presenting our national colors were Young Marines Brennon Williams, Dustin Shore, Matthew McKay and Ken Schmidt. The National Anthem was sung by Kaitlyn Schmidt. After the short ceremony, it was time for Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak to fire off the starter's pistol.

The rush of 5K runners and walkers began their advance up Brookline Boulevard at 9:00am. As the sixteen minute mark drew near, the top runners approached the finish line. Last year's winner Mark Grogan, a native Pittsburgher now living in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, repeated with a time of 15:58. Roberta Groner, of Irwin, PA, crossed the line at 17:46 as the top female. Roberta was only twenty seconds shy of the female course record, set by Karen Koehler in 1989. The top Brookline male and female runners were Jeremiah Dugan and Carrie Chisolm.

After the race, Brookline Park was alive with activity. The band Yinzide Out kept the crowd rockin' until it was time for the awards presentation and gift raffle, which included several nice selections, including the grand prize of two tickets to an upcoming Steelers game. Food and refreshments were provided at the park pavilion, with an assortment of drinks, fruit, Rita's Italian Ice and pizza from Antonio's Pizzeria.

Of the 550 main event participants who completed the 5K race, the oldest runner was Lou Lodovico, 88, of Ellwood City, and the youngest was Julian Varlotta, 5, of Cranberry Township. Lou and Julian were the recipients of the Fran Walsh Award, given annually to the oldest and youngest 5K finishers.

In the Dollar Bank team competition, the 18-over winner was Pharoahoun (Tim Wu, Gregory Byrnes and Eric Shafer) and the 13-17 year old winner was Ringold-B (Noah Smith, Kirsten McMichael, Cory Lutz, Janika Hutton and Angelica Brennfleck.)

The festivities ended shortly before noon and everyone was invited to Brookline Boulevard for the annual BreezeFest, a community celebration that featured merchant booths, games, artists, inflatables, the Citiparks Roving Art Cart, plenty of food, fun and much more. Together, the Breeze and the BreezeFest combined to make Saturday, August 11, 2012, another memorable day in the community of Brookline.

<Complete Brookline Breeze 5K Race Results>

<Official Website - www.brooklinebreeze.com>

Photos Of The Race and Awards Presentation

Click on images below for larger photos

For More Pictures from Race Day:
   The Brookline Breeze on Facebook   

31st Anniversary Breeze Video Presentation - "Running On Empty"
(courtesy of Doug Brendel)

Mark Grogan and Roberta Groner
2012 Brookline Breeze 5K Winners

The Breeze Race Directors Clint Burton and Debbie Brust would like to thank the following sponsors, partners and individuals who provided so much generous funding and effort towards this year's Brookline Breeze and Community Festival.

Our Gold Level Breeze Sponsors: Dollar Bank, Allegheny Sports Medicine, Citiparks, Highmark BC/BS, Moonlite Cafe, Chrislynn Energy Services, South Pittsburgh Development Corporation, Antonio's Pizzeria, Venture Outdoors, The Brookline Medicine Shoppe, Elite Runners and Walkers, Comcast, FROGGY, Wise Snacks and HK Anderson.

Our Brookline Breeze Sponsors: A-Boss Opticians, DeBor Funeral Home, Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak, State Senator Wayne Fontana, SPC Networks, Brookline Chamber of Commerce, Hideaway Mini-Mart, Knights of Columbus #491, Howard Hanna - Tim Reitmeyer, Michael Poremski Plumbing and Brookline Regional Catholic.

We receive support from so many others: Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Parks Director Mike Radley, Citiparks Special Events Staff and Asst. Director Tim Ishman, Area Supervisor James Krashna, Mary Beth Mueller, Citiparks Warehouse, Citiparks Audio/Visual Staff, Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services, Department of Public Works, Department of Environmental Services, Salvation Army, Brookline Recreation Center Staff, Allegheny County Police, Allegheny County Special Deputies, Emergency Police, Pittsburgh Police, Borough of Dormont Police, Keystone Young Marines, Brookline Girl Scouts, Mark Courtney and Runner's High, Keith Matts, Nancy Denes and Scoops on the Boulevard, Carol Worth and the Brentwood Firecracker 5K, John Donley, Jackie Day, Mike Walsh, Joseph Brendel and Douglas Brendel, who contributed the logo and shirt designs.

There are also the many dedicated volunteers who helped with the packet stuffing, race registrations, refreshments, barricades, planning and so much more. The Brookline Breeze 5K Fitness Run and Walk truly is a community effort, and one of the reasons that Brookline is such a special place. Thanks again everyone!

* Photos provided by Clint Burton and Doug Brendel *