by Marc and Julie Anderson
mjanders@theleaven.org
TOPEKA — They may not be the fastest runners on the route, but they might be the most popular.
On June 28, Sisters Rebecca Granado and Juanita Banuelos, both Augustinian Recollect Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation of Kansas, participated in the 48th annual Fiesta Topeka 5K Run/Walk.
The 5K was started by the late Paul Griego, a member of Our Lady Guadalupe Parish in Topeka. Griego had a heart condition and could not run himself; however, he saw a need for healthier living. Seeing an opportunity to encourage others, he started the 5K and organized it for years. For the past few years, his daughter Angel Griego has served as the race coordinator.
The event serves as one of the kickoff activities for the 92nd annual Fiesta Topeka, a weeklong celebration of Mexican culture to be held July 15-19 in Topeka’s Oakland neighborhood. The fiesta also serves as a fundraiser for the parish, as well as for Holy Family School, the school shared with Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish.
The Sisters started their participation in 2016 and have participated almost every year since.
“For me, I wanted to do it for our school — also just to have fun,” Sister Juanita said.
Likewise, Sister Rebecca said, “I thought it was exciting, just all of us together. We had participants from our school, teachers, parents. It was just fun to be together.”
Until that first 5K, neither Sister had ever participated in one.
“I never thought of doing something like that,” Sister Rebecca said.
Donning their skirts, their veils and the event T-shirts, along with walking shoes, the two set out on that first race not really knowing what to expect.
“I’d never done it,” Sister Juanita said. “I thought, ‘Am I going to survive? Am I going to finish it?’”
Preparing herself for that first race involved walking around the block several times each week, as well as walking in the park.
“We’d go to the park and just do as many laps around the park as we could,” said Sister Rebecca, adding that it “helped us to get a little bit in shape so that we could actually finish. That’s all we wanted, just to finish it.
“It’s really funny. One of our friends filmed it. She was waiting in her door, waiting for us to pass by. She watched all of the runners go by and said, ‘Did you see the Sisters?’”
The runners would say that she and Sister Juanita “were way back there.”
“We were the last ones,” Sister Rebecca continued. “So, that was all filmed, and her voice was in the film. It was funny.”
As the years go by, the Sisters said it’s definitely getting harder.
Just a few days prior to the race, Sister Juanita, who turns 70 in September, said, “I’m out of shape. I haven’t done any exercise or anything. So, it’s going to be hard.”
Sister Rebecca, who turns 75 in August, agreed, but laughed and added one detail.
“Even though it does get harder, it’s getting easier for us to win a prize,” she said. “I’ve been the only one in my category. I’ve gotten two or three medals.”
This year, however, due to the increased number of participants, 455 in total, she didn’t get one. Still, she finished the race.
As for why they continue their participation, Sister Juanita said, “As we go along, the people are cheering — especially for the Sisters. Sisters don’t do that. So, they get a kick of that.”
“It’s a novelty,” Sister Rebecca agreed.
