The Cal Poly Triathlon Team held their third annual Valentine’s Day-themed 5/10k race, “Heart and Soles,” Feb. 9 at Laguna Lake Park.
The Cal Poly Triathlon team partnered with United Way, a national nonprofit organization whose San Luis Obispo chapter works closely with local charities focused on education, income and health. The team raised $700 from the 116 runners and donated all proceeds to United Way.
The event included a costume contest preceding the 5/10k races, where participants dressed up in Valentine’s themed outfits to race in.
Heart and Soles was open to both Cal Poly students and the San Luis Obispo community.
“[Heart and Soles] is really about bringing community together,” race director and mechanical engineering junior Jacob David said. “We want to give back to the outer [San Luis Obispo] community by working with United Way.”
The finalists for both the 5/10k included members of the Cal Poly Triathlon Team, as well as other participants from around San Luis Obispo. The winner of the women’s 5k — business freshman Maia Draca — and the women’s 10k — mechanical engineering sophomore Zoe Lam — were both Cal Poly Triathlon team members. The winner of the men’s 5k was racer and San Luis Obispo community member Jadd Martinez, and the winner of the 10k was racer Cal Poly business alumnus Nick Woolf.
David called the event a success. He said he was happy with the turnout, despite having to set up the course in heavy rain the Friday night before and having to get up at 4:30 a.m. the day of to finish setting up.
Heart and Soles is expected to return for a fourth event in 2020.