More than 1,600 runners competed in the 19th Annual Officer Thomas J. Giunta Memorial 5K Road Race on a cool, breezy sunny April 7, 2013. Fifty members of Fitness Fusion, many of whom participate in the Fall River Fitness Challenge, also took part. Runners took off from the corner of Bank and High Streets and headed up High Street on the course that ran down New Boston Road, Oak Grove Avenue and ended in front of the Salvation Army on Bedford Street. "We had a great race," commented Personal Trainer Amy Jones. "I was really proud of our team," she added as they gathered for a final photo in front of the finish line. Challenge participants had trained since February with Mindy Davis by running a course in Kenndy Park and along the race route.. Click here to see race results. Click here to see a video of the race. Click here for the Herald News article. To see photos from last year's race, click here. For further information about the Fitness Challenge, contact CD-REC Program Director Annemarie Sharkey at 508-679-0522.

(Top row) A crowd of well over 1,000 runners, incuding the Fitness Fusion team, gathers at Greater Fall River Re-Creation's headquarters on Bank Street before the start of the race. (Row two) State Representative David Sullivan, Kate Lavoie, and Lynne Sullivan gather before the race, which started after the opening ceremony with Race Official Dave Pacheco, Fall River Police Chief Dan Racine, Mayor Flanagan and the police color guard. (Row three) Runners take their mark, run up High Street and then down Oak Grove Avenue with Matthew Moussamih and Jeff Reed in the lead. (Row four) Eighteen-year-old Matthew Moussamih and 27-year-old Leah Amaro take first place in the men's and women's division respectively, while Russ Delgiacco comes in at 148 out of 1,620 runners. (Row five) Eleven-year-olds Jack Cloutier and Jordan Crowley of Fall River come in at 203 and 190 respectively while Lynne Sullivan and Holly Bronhard finish strong. (Bottom row) Kathryn and Lynne Sullivan pose for a photo with Kate Lavoie at the finish line while John Belcher comes in to join the Fitness Fusion team for a group photo.