Community members ran and walked for a cause at the ISU track this weekend.

With Run for the Roses in full speed Sunday morning, participants and supporters took their places for the 5K and 10K races.

After crossing the finish line, runners and their supporters went to Ames Middle School for an omelet breakfast provided by Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. The omelet breakfast included food donations from local businesses such as Cold Stone Creamery, 1310 S. Duff Ave. Endorphins were pumping while runners took their seats and long-stem roses to eat and wait for the results from the run. A slide show including pictures from the race and the preparation process was shown throughout the breakfast and award ceremony.

Steve Pecenka, carpenter for facilities planning and management, ran the 10K [6.2 miles] Sunday morning.

“I love the charity that this is for,” Pecenka said.

“I’ve run [ Run of the Roses] for a number of years.”

Pecenka said he doesn’t have arthritis, but it runs in his family.

“Everything ran smoothly,” said Sara Ann Smith, senior in communication studies and member of Alpha Omicron Pi. “Ames Area Running Club helps us to make things run smoothly.”

Smith said she thinks the race raised about the same amount as last year – which was nearly $10,000 – to be donated toward arthritis research.

“Thanks to everyone who has participated, especially those who have been participating for the last 20 years,” Smith said.

“They make the event a success.”

Courtney Tipka, junior in pre-advertising and member of the sorority, attributed much of the last-minute registration to the beautiful day.

The amount of work that went into the run and breakfast was visible by the decorations around the cafeteria that thanked Run for the Roses’ many sponsors, supporters and volunteers.

Al Ravenscroft, member of the Ames Area Running Club, was there to assist in the release of the results and various other tasks. It was a weekend of races for Ravenscroft, who ran in Des Moines’ Race for a Cure on Saturday.

“I’ve been a member of the running club for eight years now,” Ravenscroft said. “That’s how I got involved in Run for the Roses.”

The 73-year-old runner has many years of experience.

“I ran in school but got back into it in 1974,” Ravenscroft said. “In 2004, I was named the Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year by the Iowa Games [for all ages].”

Results from the race are posted on www.fitnesssports.com.