The Ocho Rios by pass road was turned into a cackle of colours, mostly blue, chatter and running and striding feet on Saturday, May 24, for the first staging of the Sandals Foundation Streak it Blue Five K Run/Walk. Scores of runners, keep fit enthusiasts, and fun lovers lined up for the start of the event near to 7:30 a.m. under overcast skies and though, the fitter and faster finished before the clouds let go of their moisture, many came back soaked, splashing breathlessly, but mostly with smiles, across the finish line where they started, in front of Sandals Ocho Rios Beach Club. A unique touch, praised by all was the race off of hundreds of primary and prep school pupils, some as young as six and others on the edge of puberty. They galloped off, with flying feet, some 20 minutes or so after the original adult runners and walkers. Theirs was only about one kilometer each way. Even so they were not fast enough to get back before some of the adults including Horace Burey, the winner who was slowed by having to wiggle through a mass of flailing arms and uncoordinated bodies. He had to put in a surge to overtake a rival to grab the first place. There were many comments about the toughness of the route, especially the steep take off just after the start, up the Sandals Hill and the long steep incline on the return pass Buckfield up to Pineapple Craft Market. Police closed down traffic for more than 40 minutes on the main street, risking no accidents and ambulances and their personnel were left idle. Runners, some of them known to other 5K events , praised the organizers, who had very frequent water pits and had an abundance of Lucozade, Cranwater and bottled water at the end and a sprinkling welcome into the Beach Club where there were fruits and later a party and more food.
