This past Saturday, Thrive DC and Vida Fitness hosted the 8th Annual VIDA Thrive 5K. The runners' race registration fees served as donations to Thrive DC. With nearly $10,000 raised, these funds will support Thrive in their mission of providing emergency and step-up services to vulnerable individuals in DC.

The race benefited from beautiful morning: the sun rose as we waited, the grass shone with dew, and the air had a crisp chill to it. As runners arrived, they began to don their red race shirts, sporting the Thrive and Vida logos. The DJ hosted warm-ups in the soft light of the sunrise, generating a contagious energy as she motivated the runners to do jumping jacks and high knees. The group included individuals, families, and children, who, despite the early morning, looked happy to be there.

When the race started, the runners took off. Some sprinted, some walked, and some of the kids even showed off their skipping skills. In under an hour, everyone had finished the course. They enjoyed some food, water, and conversation before heading off to enjoy the rest of their day.

Last year, the VIDA Thrive 5K had to be virtual, due to the pandemic. While Thrive maintains this decision to protect the health of everyone involved, it was great to be back out this year to gather in community once again. After experiencing social distancing and isolation, we did not take the opportunity to gather in-person for granted.

Thrive DC thanks everyone who came out to support us on Saturday. We also want to thank VIDA fitness for partnering with us these past eight years to raise money for Thrive DC's programs. Interested in participating next year? Check us out next October for the 9th Annual VIDA Thrive 5K, and follow us at @thrivedc on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get the latest updates about race registration.