Teens wake early for Jupiter 5K

Volunteers run the race-day registration.

While many teens were sleeping in Sunday morning, a dedicated group were at Carlin Park early for the 3rd Annual Zoe Loren 5K.

They volunteered at the check-in and race-day registration tables, at the snack tent where some danced to the rhythmic music provided by a DJ and at the water and drink stations. They also came to run in the 5K held in honor of Zoe Loren.

Young women pose for photos before the race starts.

Zoe wasn't even 16 when she died three years ago. It started with headaches, her mom Evonn says. Then the illness progressed to seizures, hospitalization, coma and death -- all within two weeks.

To deal with their grief, Evonn and husband Bruce created the Zoe Loren Make a Difference Foundation. They wanted to offer scholarships to Meyer Academy and Suncoast High School students and to donate to homeless shelters and food pantries and no-kill animal shelters.

The 5K is the foundation's biggest money-maker. The event is well-organized with police closing A1A, Starbucks coffee for early arrivers and bananas and oranges for a quick pick-me-up.

Runners listen to instructions before the 5K starts.

John Reback, 43, was the first to cross the finish line with a time of  17
 minutes and 32.4 seconds.

Coming in second was Edward Stern, of New York City, with a time
of 17 minutes and 43.7 seconds. At age 48, he finished in first place in the
male master division.

Annie Almark, 15, was the first woman to cross the finish line. Her time
of 21 minutes and 29.3 seconds ranked her 12th overall.

In the Female 10 and under division, Leigha Degnen, 9 and of Jupiter, took
first place with her time of 22 minutes and 36.8 seconds. She ranked 16th overall.

Colten Brockman, 9, took top honors in the Male 10 and under division
with a time of 25 minutes and 56.7 seconds. He ranked 53rd overall.

Wearing lime-green compression knee socks, Carol Hassell, 60, placed first
in the Female Masters division with a time of 24 minutes and 12.3 seconds.
The West Palm Beach resident ranked 26th overall.

Nat Adler, 32, wore this Superman jersey. I liked the spring in his step as he
crossed the finish line with a time of 20 minutes and 39.7 seconds.

Throughout the morning, DJ Russell Stevens from In the Cut Studios
played upbeat music creating a happy race-day mood.

In the first year, the foundation raised about $15,000 from the 5K. In 2012, it took in about $25,000. This year, with over 400 participants who paid at least $25 to enter, the foundation's coffers are building.

"It is extremely emotional and gratifying for my family I to see so many people come out to support our Foundation," Evonn said. "We are grateful to honor Zoe by giving back to our community. It's our way of keeping Zoe's memory alive."

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013, when I walked:

Steps: 11,410

Miles: 5.7