Many of the people participating in Saturday’s Run for Literacy
have their own reasons for running. For 10-year-old Joshua Ruiz,
it’s a personal one – his grandfather.
Many of the people participating in Saturday’s Run for Literacy have their own reasons for running. For 10-year-old Joshua Ruiz, it’s a personal one – his grandfather.
A part of the fourth-grader’s run in the 10k category will be in honor of his grandfather, who learned to read through an adult literacy program similar to the one San Juan Bautista is running for the county.
“I definitely think this is a good thing, especially since his grandpa was in an adult literacy program,” said his mother, Rachel Ruiz.
She is not surprised to see her son racing in his first official event.
Joshua, who has already been timed in the mile run at just a little more than seven minutes, is the fastest for his age group in his fourth-grade class at San Juan Elementary School.
Running comes as second nature to Joshua, who said he has always enjoyed it.
“When I’m running, I just feel like I’m floating on air,” he said.
Rachel Ruiz said Joshua has been practicing for several weeks to prepare for the literacy run, but that is nothing new for the athletically inclined youth.
“He’s actually been a good runner from when I can first remember,” she said. “That’s why he likes playing soccer because he gets to run a lot.”
But Joshua is not the only one in his family who will play a part in the event.
His 8-year-old sister, Elisha, will be singing the National Anthem to open the festivities.
“Elisha has had the talent to sing since she was very young,” Rachel Ruiz said.
“I’ve just always liked to sing,” Elisha said. “I want to be a Christian singing artist.”
Although she is receiving formal singing lessons, Elisha tries to practice her singing every chance she gets.
“I practice in the car; I practice outside; I practice at school; I practice in the house,” Elisha said.
Ruiz said she and her other daughter Jamie, 7, will take part in the 5K walk that is also part of the event.
The inaugural San Juan Bautista Adult Literacy Program’s Run For Literacy 10k Run, 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday in San Juan Bautista.
The race, sponsored by the Hollister Free Lance, begins and ends at the Mission San Juan Bautista on a flat course that goes out and back through the rural countryside.
Medals will be awarded to the top-three finishers in each division. The race begins at 9 a.m. for all runners. The 5K Walk is at 9:15 a.m. The $25 entrance fee includes a race T-shirt. There are divisions for all age groups for both men and women. Proceeds will benefit the San Juan Bautista Adult Literacy Program for San Benito County.
For more information, call the race hotline at (831) 623-1188. Interested runners can also register at: www.freelancenews.com.
