Stepping Up to Help Fight Heart Disease

During its 13-year history, the American Heart Assn.’s annual Heart Run and Walk has never experienced rain.

Thanks to good timing Sunday, the event again took place in favorable weather through the streets of Woodland Hills before overcast skies and rain moved into the Valley.

“We’ve never had it rain on our parade,” said John Moriarty, founder and chairman of the Heart Run and Walk, which is expected to raise more than $100,000 to fight cardiovascular diseases and problems, such as strokes, high blood pressure and congenital heart defects.

“Actually, the conditions are absolutely ideal for runners because it’s a little cooler,” Moriarty said.

However, the series of storms did have an effect on participation, said Deirdre Hollenbeck, a volunteer coordinator who has been involved with the event since its inception.

Hollenbeck said more than 5,000 walkers and runners were originally expected, but fewer than 2,500 showed up for the event, which is an official warm-up for the Los Angeles Marathon.

Last year, about 3,700 people took part, she said.

Canoga Park resident Apolonia Ruiz, 20, overtook Jesus Villavicencio, also 20, of Thousand Oaks, in the final quarter-mile to take first place in the 5K run with a winning time of 15:41.

“I went out a little fast, but I hung on at the end,” said Ruiz, who finished two seconds ahead of Villavicencio.

Four seconds was the difference in the 10K run, as Jorge Marquez, 33, held off a late charge by another 33-year-old, Brian Spangenberg. Marquez’s winning time was 33:52.

Ralph Rodriguez, Tom Caylor and Philip Kent, representing Litton Gas, won the team event with a combined time of 56:33 in the 5K.