Run with Heroes Kicks off 2018 River Fest

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo Police Chief Frank Carter showed up in full regalia, four stars mounted on his perfectly laundered uniform and all. He scratched his name off the speakers’ list and upon sizing up the competition, decided he’d run too, in full uniform.

In addition to Carter, who despite scratching his name off the speakers’ list, was forced to make some opening remarks on the stage, along with Sheriff David Jones and Col. Ricky Mills, the 17 TRW Commander at Goodfellow Air Force Base, and San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter, the Angelo State University cheerleaders led the sizable crowd in dancing the choreographed movements to the 1983 Michael Jackson hit, “Thriller.”

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Above: After stretching, San Angelo Police Chief Frank Carter offers running tips to a fellow citizen. (LIVE! Photo/Joe Hyde)

By about 9 a.m. the 5k and 1 mile run was off. The route started behind the Whiskey River Saloon on the banks of the Concho River and went west, underneath the bridges of Oakes, Chadbourne, and the Bryants, under Beauregard, to David St. and back. About 250 ran or walked the route.

Chief Carter, in full uniform, took off in a full, fast trot, outpacing some of the fastest runners. He was moving up the line of runners rapidly, then he saw half-mile marker and suddenly turned around.

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Running counter to the hundred or so he had passed, Chief Carter offered all encouragement to continue. With Carter’s distraction, I missed the half-mile sign, and before I knew I was beyond the bridges of the Bryants. I was committed to the rest of the 3.1 miles.

Luckily, San Angelo Fire Department personnel, in full gear, were running along with me. “Don’t worry, sir. We’re trained paramedics. We’ve got you,” one, with the name “Robertson” across his fireman’s jacket, said.

Katherine Ward was the overall fastest female runner of the 5k. She is a cadet with the U.S. Air Force ROTC, according to Del Velasquez, Executive Director of Downtown San Angelo, Inc. The overall winner was Stephen Shields. According to his wife, Elizabeth, this was the first race Stephen placed first place.

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The Run with Heroes is a statewide series of runs designed to raise money and awareness for first responders such as military, police and firefighters. Operation Blue Shield organizes it. “Operation Blue Shield creates, supports, and integrates community-based programs and partnerships that build safe, healthy, sustainable neighborhoods and a stronger America,” according to their website. https://www.operationblueshield.org/

This year’s San Angelo Run for Heroes was produced by Downtown San Angelo, Inc. and title sponsored by First Financial Bank and Time Clock Plus. It kicked off the annual 2018 River Fest activities for Sept. 15, 2018 that will culminate with a large outdoor concert at the RiverStage headlined by the Josh Abbott Band.

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Corrections: After the final tally, 250 paid to participate in the run. Also, we added Stephen Shields as the overall winner of the 5k.