By Tony Di Domizio

NORTH WALES – What a great day to be alive in North Wales.

It was the second evening of summer on Wednesday, and the warming sun’s rays beamed down from behind dusky clouds.

In the nearby amphitheater, citizens grooved to the music of a live band, while children played nearby. Runners took advantage of the summer air and jogged through the borough.

The only thing unusual is these runners – all 505 of them – wore numbered tags, and it wasn’t a leisure jog either.

It was the 16 th annual Tex Mex Connection 5k Race for Open Space and it was a success.

“It was just great,” race volunteer and council-woman Wendy McClure said. “It is always important to take part in the community.”

Runners of all shapes and sizes, young and old, took part in the 5 kilometer race at 7 p.m. that started near TexMex Connection at Second Street and Montgomery Avenue.

The event occurred on a Wednesday because, according to WVWA Director of Special Events Carol DeLancey, so many 5K races occur during the summer, it is hard to fit one in.

A one mile fun run/walk took place before the actual race.

The proceeds from the reace will benefit the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association.

Tex Mex owner Jean Keyes not only supplied the T-shirts and trophies for the race, but also had a great spread of food and beer at the end of the race for runners and volunteers.

“We encourage the volunteers to cheer on the folks in the race,” McClure said. “It’s wonderful.”

DeLancey said this is the sixth year proceeds have benefited WVWA. She said other beneficiaries had not helped as much in the past.

“The race needs 100 volunteers,” she said. “WVWA and Tex Mex are partners in the event.”

DeLancey said last year WVWA received $14,000 from the event. The total raised this year is still being calculated, she explained.

“The money is used to help in our mission of preserving open space in the Wissahickon Valley Watershed, as well as trail maintenance, and to support our education program,” she said.

Awards were given out to the top three male and females in five-year age increments.

The top male winner was Jened Tung, with a time of 16:21. The top female winner was Donna Palisca, with a time of 17:55.

The top master male – a runner over 40 years old – was race presenter Dr. John Marino of Doylestown Medical and Healing Arts Center, with a time of 16:40, and the top master female was Jean Marie Eschenbach, with a time of 19:42.

Volunteer Angelo Pedicini, 29, of North Wales, learned about the event through his employer, Rohm & Haas.

“I found out about volunteering through e-mail,” he said. “I run, but I volunteered instead. I came to help out because it’s for a good cause.”

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