The runners started at 8:15 a.m. inspired by young Hana Li Winters version of the Star-Spangled Banner and with Lt. Dimmer of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office blowing the starting horn for the chip-timed, USA Track and Field Certified 5K & 10K courses from the Harborview Center across Clearwater’s Memorial Bridge to the beach and back. This was the second year in a row that the race included members from the Goodwill Treatment center as requested by Clearwater criminal Judge Deanna Farnell. However runners came from all across the US. Thirteen of the runners were in the elite class.

24-year old Nathan Holden from Jacksonville, Florida was the winner in the Male 10K category, Melissa Todd from Kansas City won the Women’s 10K, Daniel Geilman won in the Men’s 5K and Christa Benton from St. Petersburg was the 5K Women’s champion.

After the race, all runners and their family members enjoyed the SNTD race cooked-from-scratch specialty pancake breakfast with EAS Myoplex shakes, Starbucks coffee and more.

During the award ceremony at the Harborview several young members of the Drug Free Marshals invited the attendees to take the pledge for a Drug Free Life.

Several groups hosted booths in the Harborview Center, including the Foundation for a Drug Free World, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, The SunCoast Academy which was on hand to give runners complimentary post-race massages and Dr. Jarrett of Family Life Chiropractic. Hundreds of runners also received goodie bags with books by L. Ron Hubbard and promotional materials from sponsors such as Crystal Springs Water, Einstein Bros. Bagels. Nature’s Food Patch and radio station WQYK.

The Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic Race was started by Sandra Johnson from the Church of Scientology.

You can stay in the loop by checking out www.saynotodrugs.com . We also invite you to find out more about Foundation for a Drug-Free World's Educational campaign by going to www.drugfreeworld.org.