On Saturday, October 4th, the 2nd Annual Rutherford Romp 5K/10K and one mile Fun Run took place. The event raised $10,000 for local charities, $5,000 for The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County, Inc. and $5,000 for Murfreesboro Rescue Mission.

Over 200 runners, walkers and volunteers gathered at Gateway Island, behind Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. As participants arrived to prepare for the race, everyone was treated to music, food, and giveaways from the Nashville Predators and several sponsors.

After racers finished competing for the overall cash prize of $100, Retta Gardner, President of title sponsor Guaranty Trust Company, presented awards to the winners. The overall 5K male winner was Clarke Hyde with a chip time of 19:34 and the overall 5K female winner was Alison Kroviak with a chip time of 22:56. Overall 10K male winner was Timothy Oleary with a chip time of 39:12 and 10K female winner was Kristi Phillips with a chip time of 41:35. Additionally, medals were awarded to the top three finishers in male and female categories for age groups ranging from 9 and under to 60 and over.

Full race results can be viewed at www.amatteroftiming.com.

"On behalf of The Rutherford Romp Foundation, I would like to thank everyone who chose to show up, participate, and support the 2014 Rutherford Romp. Together, we have left footprints all over the community! As a result of that effort, we are going to use these donations to 'leave it better than we found it', in keeping with the mission statement of The Rutherford Romp Foundation," says Shannon Wheeler, Rutherford Romp Race Director.

The idea of the Rutherford Romp Foundation and 5K/10K began in early 2013 after Wheeler, volunteered at the Child Advocacy Center during the United Way Days of Action. Wheeler said, "What started out as a day to volunteer in the community with my family, turned out to be a day that changed my life. I was moved to find a way to leave it better than I found it." In an effort to combine his personal passion for running and a compelling desire to leave his footprints on the community, he founded the Rutherford Romp Foundation, which would ultimately initiate the Rutherford Romp 5k/10K.