This year’s Mercer Festival and 5k Race experienced several changes from last year’s inaugural version. The occasion was at once more expansive than last year’s version and a smaller, more intimate affair. This year’s team had three main goals: community outreach, supporting outreach ministries, and deepening core parish participation.

Unlike the initial Mercer Festival, this year’s celebration was subsumed into the larger 20th Anniversary celebration for St. David’s. Additionally, Rev. Mary Kay and the Vestry decided to expand the festival’s support beyond REACH to all outreach ministries: REACH, Bromley, El Hogar, and Loudoun Interfaith Relief.

The festival team fulfilled their goal of community outreach. Of the roughly 200 runners in the 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run events, about a third of the field came from St. David’s parishioners. Participants came from further afield than just Ashburn and Leesburg, with 5k racers coming in from North Bethesda, Gainesville, and elsewhere in the Washington area. Additionally, this year the race awards were handed out in the Narthex and in the sanctuary, so non-parishioners had a chance to get a feel for the church and community.

This year, the festival raised over $2,000. Overall, the total was slightly less than last year, probably in part due to the windy chill in the air on race morning, however the team was satisfied with the result given the impact of having the festival as part of a larger celebration. The money earned will go to support all of St. David’s outreach ministries.

The 5k race itself was won by Shannon Hawrylo, who disappeared off the radar screen of the rest of the field and finished more than 2 minutes ahead of her next competitor. Gillian Kalaris and Kristy Persons rounded out the women’s top 3 finishers. On the men’s side, Brian Wells finished first, and Kevin Stack and Scott Reimert completed the top three. Full race results can be found on the website.

The core community participation was also rousingly successful. All of the outreach ministries got involved. REACH parents and kids, as well as Loudoun Interfaith ministry members made up the backbone of the more than 75 volunteers who helped with the race and the festival. Additionally, the volunteers were a good mix of both the 9:00 family service and the 10:45 traditional service.

After this year’s success, the team has even grander goals for the 2011 Mercer Festival, which will once again have the race and festival on the same day.