First-Ever Two Good Soles 5K Steps Off Today in Hudson to Fund Shoes for Pasco Kids

Runners and walkers are lacing up in Hudson this morning for the first-ever Two Good Soles 5K, a new charity race benefiting Pasco County students who need shoes and socks for school. The run/walk starts at 8 a.m. at Sunwest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway, with bib pickup running from 6 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.

Pasco County government and United Way of Pasco County organized the event, which is open to participants of all speeds. The course is paved and wheelchair-friendly, so families with strollers or wheelchair athletes can take part alongside competitive runners.

Registration climbed in tiers over the summer, from $35 in June to $40 in July and $45 in August, ahead of today's race. Anyone who missed online sign-up can check at the park for race-day availability.

Where the money goes

Proceeds from the 5K feed directly into the Two Good Soles Shoes & Socks Drive, now in its 11th year. The drive buys new shoes and socks for Pasco County Schools students whose families can't afford them, and it's collecting donations countywide through October 16.

Beyond today's race, residents can drop off new shoes and socks at Pasco County government locations and several constitutional offices, including the Clerk & Comptroller, the Property Appraiser, and the Tax Collector's offices around the county.

Organizers haven't said how many runners registered for this first running of the event, but the shoes-and-socks drive itself has grown into an annual tradition for the county over the past decade. This year's race adds a new way for residents to pitch in without buying a single pair of shoes themselves, just a pair of sneakers of their own and a race-morning donation.

Anyone who can't make it to Sunwest Park this morning can still help by dropping off new shoes or socks at a county office before the drive closes in mid-October.

Want more on what's happening around Pasco County? Visit Pasco County Community Website for ongoing coverage, follow us on Facebook for updates throughout the day, and join the conversation in our Community Forum to share how your race morning went. For more upcoming happenings around the county, check out our events coverage and community stories.