I arrived at the Soul RYEDERS 5k/Half Marathon just after 7 a.m. on May 18. I was surprised to see that the giant Playland parking lot was already almost full.
The weather, warm and breezy, was perfect for a race. The sun shone on the Playland Lake, sparkling on the water. Families sat nearby with supportive signs, ready to cheer their loved ones.
This annual Soul Ryeders event attracts people from all over the region who run (or walk) in support of fundraising for cancer or in honor of a loved one.
I walked as a proud member of Team Carpe Diem, a group captained by my friend Kaylie Nakamura, a Rye High School senior, whose father, Kuni, passed away from pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2023. Her father was bubbly, outgoing, and lived by the motto of Carpe Diem — to seize the day. Kaylie encouraged everyone who could to honor her father, and 60 people joined in wearing matching Team Carpe Diem T-shirts.
Kaylie’s older brothers, Ken and Eddie, traveled from out of town to join their mom, Eileen. Others were neighbors from Rye or Quogue. Even a family member›s personal trainer and his wife showed up.
Kaylie’s team was just one of more than 50 entering the race. Others included 8 Years No Evidence of Disease (NED), Team Deen, Coogans Crew, and Soul Mates. Each team had its own fundraising goal, and the majority beat it by a landslide.
The 5K route, which we followed, had us take a right out of Playland onto Forest Avenue toward town. We eventually turned around at Lynden Street and retraced our steps back into Playland. We veered right and made our way through the park, the pier, and ended up at Edith Read Sanctuary.
The first half-marathon finisher was not a part of any team, and finished in less than an hour and 15 minutes, which set him at a pace of around 5-1/2 minutes per mile.
He may have been booking through town, but many of us walked. I saw kids in strollers, their parents running with them; older folks who walked with their dogs; and teenagers who ran the half-marathon and the 5K. The event brought together so many different communities, all to fight for the same cause. Team Carpe Diem contributed $23,662, surpassing their last year’s record of $18,700.
I am graduating from Rye High School next month and as I walked with my friends in support of Team Carpe Diem, I reflected on my childhood here. It’s events like this that make me love our town so much. Hundreds coming together for a common cause that’s bigger than themselves. I realized that the community is bigger than winning any race, and that I am lucky to be a part of it.
If you or someone you know would like to make a donation to Soul Ryeders, go to: https://zippy-reg.com/fundraise/2116.
