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| Stu grandstanding during pre-race introductions |
April is Miami Sports & Wellness Month, so if you’ve been thinking of getting active this is the month to do it! To help kick off the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (GMCVB) 3rd Annual Miami Sports & Wellness Month, St. Thomas University mascot Stu participated in its Miami Mascot Madness Kick Off Race.
Stu was among several of South Florida’s professional and collegiate sports mascots racing to the finish line – Billy the Marlin of the Miami Marlins; Bucky the Buccaneer of Barry University; Roary the Panther of Florida International University; Sebastian the Ibis of the University of Miami; TD of the Miami Dolphins; The Florida Memorial University Lion; Burnie of the Miami Heat; and Obie of the Orange Bowl.
The mascots began their 100-yard dash, bright and early at Museum Park under the relentless Miami sun. This wasn’t your conventional running race: Obie took a head start, Sebastian tried to tackle Stu, Stu lost one of his shoes, they were cartwheeling, tumbling, pirouetting, skipping, and of course running to the finish line.
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| Stu taking down Sebastian |
In the end, everyone finished strong. The top three finishers won a donation to their team’s favorite charity. First place went to TD, who raced on behalf of the Miami Dolphins Foundation. Second place went to Obie, who was representing the Orange Bowl Youth Leadership Academy. And third place went to Sebastian, who raced on behalf of the United Way of Miami-Dade. Stu came in fifth with a finish time of 39 seconds.
Additionally, the GMCVB hosted a press conference to announce new and exciting running trails located throughout Miami.
Frankie Ruiz, chief running officer and co-founder of the Miami Marathon, invited everyone to get active this month.
“Miami has become a running destination with routes for everyone – walkers, runners, rollerbladers – everyone,” Ruiz said. “Being active, and participating in sporting events give our community personality and it connects you to your neighborhood and city. I invite you to get out there and walk, run, hop!”
Throughout the month of April locals and visitors can enjoy special discounts to great recreational activities including golf, tennis, bicycling, running, water sports and more throughout greater miami and the beaches.
Visit www.MiamiSportsMonth.com and you’ll find 30 days of special sports and wellness deals.
For more photos of Stu and the other mascots, click here.
