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EDINBURG — “We need all tacos at the starting line.”
An event organizer alerted on her radio that the people dressed up as tacos needed to head to the front of the line where runners were ready to take off. They couldn’t begin a 5K run without the moral support of tacos, after all.
This was the vibe early Saturday morning as the city of Edinburg hosted its inaugural Tacos and Toros 5K Run and Walk at H-E-B Park.
At around 6:30 a.m. that morning, runners from across the Rio Grande Valley stretched and jogged in place here at the park, which is located at 1616 S. Raul Longoria Road #9169 in Edinburg, as they prepared for the race.
Waiting for them at the finish line were tacos including barbacoa, carnitas and bistek, and just about anything else you’d imagine at a South Texas event featuring tacos.
According to Olivia Lucio, vice president of marketing and resource development for the Boys and Girls Club of Edinburg, the club searched for a way to incorporate the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros into a community event.
“We typically do a golf tournament but this time we were like, ‘Let’s do something that brings the community together,’ and so that’s where the 5K came in, “ Lucio said. “We really just wanted to be all-inclusive, like fun, exciting, run for the tacos, run for the kids.”
She explained that after the 5K the first 150 runners could redeem a free taco using a coupon at either Tico’s Tacos or Los Villa Tacos, the local businesses sponsoring the event.
Mission native Alberto Licona, owner of Tico’s Tacos, explained that preparation for Saturday’s event began Friday when he dropped off the taco trailer at the park.
He arrived around 6 a.m. Saturday to chop the meat and prepare the gas stoves, and to prepare for the hungry runners battling the morning humidity and the pavement.
“We have enough for everybody,” Licona said. “It’s about 40 pounds of meat, barbacoa and carnitas, so we’re ready.”
Although an inaugural event from Edinburg, this was not Licona’s first 5K run where he served as a vendor. In fact, he explained that in previous events he’s sold out of food.
Lucio explained that with the help of the fundraiser the club would have enough funds to take kids on a summer field trip to the Texas State Aquarium.
“They provide direct support to our programs and our services,” Lucio said. “Really the 5K just provides us with that critical funding that we need to operate and provide these services to our kiddos.”
Not only could attendees enjoy free tacos but they also received two free tickets to Saturday’s Toros game against Miami FC.
That wasn’t the only gift though, according to Lucio. The first 1,000 participants who attended the game were expected to be given a signed imitation jersey.
Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza said the event not only helps bring funds to the club but also brought the community together to enjoy the outdoors while also getting to know more about the city.
“It’s important that we exercise and what a better way to do it than by coming to support the Boys and Girls Club, get your running in and then having a taco,” Garza said jokingly, adding that the theme must’ve resonated with people since the event saw about 500 people register with another 200 on a waiting list to register.
To see more, view Monitor photojournalist Joel Martinez’s full photo gallery here:
Photo Gallery: Runners participant in Edinburg’s inaugural Tacos and Toros 5K Run & Walk
