Saturday’s Augusta Half Marathon, 10K/5K is more than a race for some participants.
It’s an event that provides a sense of community and camaraderie.
For Ashley Brown, it’s a way to honor and remember her late daughter, Frances, who died in 2018, as well as bring a community of people together.
Born in 2007 with a rare overgrowth syndrome, M-CM, Macrocephaly Capillary Malformation, Frances was only one of 239 people in the world diagnosed with the condition, according to her obituary.
She is the inspiration behind a non-profit called, “Friends of Frances.” It was founded in 2012 in her honor to assist children in the CSRA with medical equipment and needed therapies.
The first friends took part in the race in 2012, according to the Friends of Frances’ website, and the number of Frances’ friends has grown over the years.
“I participate to celebrate Frances’ friends and to advocate for inclusion,” Brown wrote on Instagram.
Gabe Groshong participates in the 5K as a way to spend time with his 10-year-old daughter Maela. The two of them have been training together for several months.
“It’s a blast to get out there and run with her,” he said. “She sets goals and then puts the work in to achieve them. We get the work done, but we have fun while we do it.”
Maela, who was born with only one leg, ran her first 5K at the age of 6. At the 2024 Augusta Half/10K/5K, Maela crushed her personal record with a time of 43:50. They signed up for the 2025 event not long after completing the 2024 race, and Maela said she’s looking forward to setting a new personal record.
The race has a new home this year. The start and finish had been at the Augusta Common in previous years, but it will be moved to Augusta University’s Summerville Campus.
The event is scheduled from 7 to 11:15 a.m. Saturday.
“Traffic will be impacted in and around Augusta, the Augusta Canal, Summerville and the Lakemont/Lake Olmstead area. As a result, Augusta residents, businesses, and those visiting the city will potentially be affected – to varying degrees – by these impacts. The Richmond County Sheriff Department will reopen intersections as soon as the last runner has passed,” according to a Facebook post by the Augusta Sports Council. “The turn circle entrance off Walton Way/Fleming Avenue will NOT be open at any point during the race – (Saturday from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m.). There will not be any road closures outside of the turn circle entrance off Walton Way/Fleming Avenue. There may be a lot of one-way traffic but no planned road closures.”
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
