Some think of running as an individual sport. There were certainly individual runners at the Mankato Marathon Pork Power 5K Friday looking to meet their own speed or fitness goals.

But the energy of the race came from the groups, and the desire for runners to enjoy the famous bacon station during the race.

Organizers announced a record turnout of over 1,000 runners in the 5K. The teams ushered in a festive atmosphere, some with costumes, others with special T-shirts. The T-shirts represented a cause, a group identity, a company or relationships; sometimes all of the above.

A few dozen people donned royal blue shirts that read “I run for JT.” JT is 11-year-old James Young, who was ready for a day to race in his power chair and be with his cousins. Those who run for JT have been running at Mankato Marathon events for about 11 years.

“At first, running was a fundraiser for medical equipment for JT,” according to his mother, Brittany Young. “Now it’s more of an awareness event. (JT) likes the awareness component.”

JT has spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA. SMA is in the “same family” as muscular dystrophy, according to JT’s grandmother, Ruth Young.         

The Young family lives in Waverly, Minnesota, and they come to Mankato for the marathon event, which is organized and hosted by Brittany’s sister, Sarah Cornish of Mankato.

Ruth Young is Sarah and Brittany’s mother; she looked with a beaming, smiling pride over her family gathering for James. “It’s a big family thing,” Ruth said. “After the race tomorrow, we’ll go to Sarah’s house to have a huge spaghetti feed.”

At the starting area for the run, James was lined up with Ruth, Brittany and a few of his cousins. “He (JT) is having a ball,” Brittany said.

JT had plenty of competitive juices flowing. He told his mother that he could do an eight-minute mile.

JT was happy to be with his cousins for the event; his smile was constant and contagious.

Some ran the race as a community-building opportunity to build on a group identity. South Central College (SCC) unveiled a new mascot this year; the school is now represented as the SCC Otters. 

The Otters were announced as the group with the largest attendance at the 5K with 47 runners.

“It was about one-third (students), one-third (faculty) and one-third (staff) who are participating in the race,” said SCC Math Center Coordinator Connie Cordell, who organized the group. 

“I run marathons,” Cordell said. “I went to our Director of Marketing and Communication (Shelly Megaw) with the idea of having SCC in the race; she was on board.”

“It’s fun,” said SCC Vice President of Finance and Operations Katie Hewitt as she prepared to participate pushing a stroller with two children. “We’re seeing all these people with their otter apparel on.”

Some groups at the 5K were smaller, but still compelling to watch. Decked out in neon pink and green dinosaur-style pajamas, North Mankato resident Karla Risan and her brother, Mark Snyder, who came in from Alaska, have invited others to join them in Mankato Marathon activities. Risan and Snyder have gathered some fame during the Saturday marathon (though they still run the 5K); they run the marathons dressed in full pirate regalia.

“People ask us while we run, ‘Are you THE pirates?’” Risan said. “I love it when spectators play pirate music when we pass by. My favorite is when they play the Pirates of the Caribbean (theme song).”

The costumes continue to get more elaborate over the four years they’ve run the marathon together; they now run with long coats and carry pouches to hand out treasure to spectators.

Is it hard to run in long coats? “It depends on which way the wind is blowing,” admitted Risan.