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Over 200 participated in the return of the Toast Pancake Run, held 8 a.m. Sunday in support of Root To Rise, a local nonprofit that provides free health-based resources, services, and support to those in recovery and with mental health issues.

Among them was first time 5k race runner Janie Marcus, 7, of Ocean Township, who ran alongside her father Ari, 32, and paternal grandfather Richard, 62. Her favorite part of the day was both finishing and being rewarded with free pancakes in Kennedy Park.

Kicking off at St. James Place and Lake Avenue, the 5k run/walk is the brainchild of Toast owner Amy Russo Harrigan, who put the annual charity fundraising race on hold following her father Bob Russo’s death and her subsequent rebranding and opening of a third Toast breakfast and lunch venue at his legendary Broadway Diner in Red Bank.

“I couldn’t have done this without the support of my friends,” Russo Harrigan said. Those friends not only served as route guides but came together to distribute water, fruit, race medals, and of course pancakes to the runners.

Alongside her was Root to Rise founder Amy Budinich, who launched the nonprofit as a way to help those suffering from addiction and mental illness an alternative route to wellness through yoga, meditation, and other health practices.

“We have about 15 outreach programs that run throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties,” she said. “We go out and teach meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and relaxation to people in adult and adolescent recovery programs, juvenile detention centers, and rehabs.”

Budinich who, continues her search for an Asbury Park location, has opened up shop in Belmar.

“Our goal is to eventually come back to Asbury but we have a situation in Belmar where we are able to sublet part of a yoga studio so that we could get our programs up and running,” she said. “The purpose of the space is to offer our programs at no cost or donation based to people in recovery outside of facilities.”

Budinich’s programs reach those not only struggling with addiction but also those diagnosed with PTSD, eating disorders, and trauma. There are community walking meetups and last year she administer a free program in the Asbury Park School District.

At the finish line, friends and members of a Wall-based kickboxing club Amy Winters, 33, of Middletown; Alyssa Gray, 24, of Wall; Kelsey Miller, 24, of Neptune; and Kim Lin, 40, of Neptune, toasted their just over 34 minute finish with water distributed by volunteers. This was their fourth 5k of the year.  

David Dorsey, 50, of Staten Island, NY, and Erika Meling, 28, of Long Valley, NJ were the top male and female finishers, with city locals Samuel Moore, 42, and Grace Madigan, 28, placing sixth and seventh, respectively.

Dorsey, a competitive racer for the past 25, said he’s been running since age 5. He participated in the race as a show of support for Sunrise Assisted Living coworker Eva Zahorodny, 23, of Westfield, who was also running in her first 5k race.

“I saw it on Instagram,” said Zahorodny, who took up the sport a year ago. “I thought well why not. I was really impressed with myself because a lot of times when I am running I think I don’t know if I can do this. I was surrounded by the ocean, which made it a special experience.”

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