Rina’s Run makes a big difference every year for the Ripon High School campus with its 5K and one mile runs in the name of the late Rina Brocchini of a prominent Ripon farming family.
Her son Bob has been a stalwart supporter of the fundraising event for the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation.
The distances of this year’s May 1 races are being certified by the USA Track and Field Association. The half marathon will make its turn at Caswell State Park with the starting line for all the races set on the new All Weather Track that Rina’s Run made possible.  The Ripon Police Department will provide security for the runners on the course.
Congressman Jeff Denham will be firing off the starting gun on the track. Valley’s Got Talent winner Ryan Hammond is set to sing the National Anthem in the center of the stadium.  A new 10 K race event has been added this year at the same price and the same starting line as the 5K race.
Vernon Transportation has offered a $1,000 price for the first male to finish below an hour and 8  minutes  and the first female to complete her race below an hour and 14 minutes in the half marathon. Action photos of the runners are going to be taken by professional event photographers Captivating Sports offering free picture downloads.
Tech shirts, finishers’ medals and postrace refreshments are being provided for every entrant.
Participants may register on line or print out an entry form at www.rinasrun.com.
Volunteers for the run are being sought out.  Each will receive a Rina’s Run T-shirt and a 50 percent discount on next year’s event.
Trailblazing sponsors who have made the event possible include McManis Family Vineyards, Fonseca Farms, Tuff Boy Leasing, Cal Crush, the Ripon Quarterback Club, South San Joaquin Irrigation District and the Ripon Rotary Club.