by Robert Stichter
I ran this race on March 20th at Cairns University. The track club held its annual Rock Your Socks 5k. This was a benefit for World Down Syndrome Day. My son, Hunter, who will be 1 on April 6th, has Down’s. This was his first race! (Well, I pushed him in a running stroller.) The race was just a little longer than a 5K: 3.21 miles. 3/21 is World Down Syndrome Day. “3.21” also signifies the Trisomy 21. Trisomy 21 is the most common chromosomal anomaly in humans, affecting about 5,000 babies born each year and more than 350,000 people in the United States. If you look at the shape of the chromosomes of Trisomy 21, it looks like a pair of mismatched socks (hence, “Rock Your Socks”). So each runner was asked to wear a pair of mismatched socks, which Hunter and I did. We completed the 3.21 rolling hills race in 36 minutes. Not too bad for having fun, pushing a stroller, and oh yeah–taking a time-out to change a diaper. LOL!
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