“Not So Normal” Race Draws 1100

About 1100 runners hit the streets of Carrboro on a beautiful Sunday morning for the Not So Normal 5K, the culmination of a weekend of events that benefited dozens of local nonprofits.

Listen to the story, with sound recorded live at the start/finish line.

The race began and ended at 300 East Main Street. In addition to the 5K, there was also a 10K and a half-marathon (the first half-marathon in Carrboro’s history, according to organizers).

Jay Radford heads up the “Not So Normal” festivities: formerly best known as the dad behind the “Mom in Chapel Hill” blog, he created the project last year as a way to stay active in the community and promote philanthropy. The first Not So Normal race was last fall, with a little more than 400 runners; this year’s race drew nearly three times that many and raised at least $31,000 (at last count) for dozens of charities. (Radford says he’s hoping for a total draw of $50,000 when all the funds are counted.)

Jay Radford addresses the runners before the Not So Normal 5K. (Photo by Aaron Keck.)

Primary beneficiaries are the ArtsCenter, PTA Thrift Shop, and Super Cooper’s Little Red Wagon Foundation; organizers also solicited food and book donations for PORCH, TABLE, and Book Harvest.

In the 300 E. Main parking lot, more than a thousand runners warm up together before the Not So Normal 5K.

A colorfully decked-out motorcycle awaited some runners at the end of the Not So Normal 5K. (Photo by Aaron Keck.)

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