LaDainian Tomlinson’s signature ball-flip touchdown dance was seen once again in San Diego.
Paying homage to the former Charger great, a few runners did imitation ball-flips after they crossed the finish line of Tomlinson’s 2nd Annual LT 5K and Inaugural Kids 1-Mile Fun Run this past Saturday morning. The celebrations and turnout were emblematic of what Tomlinson still means to the local community.
There were approximately 2200 participants and a crowd of more than 2700 at NTC Park at Liberty Station in Point Loma for the event. Some were grey-haired, some wore tutus, others pushed strollers. Tails wagged as dogs guided the sight impaired, families cheered on other families, and lots and lots of Charger powder blue.
It wasn’t just the participants who had fun. Tomlinson got the crowd warmed up with the LT electric glide, showing he’d be a great candidate for Dancing With the Stars. To signal the start of the race, Tomlinson channeled his inner QB with, "down…blue 45…blue 45…set…hike!"
It was a festive family affair and the weather was San Diego perfect. A huge American flag waved above the crowd while music played and folks enjoyed a complimentary food court, bounce houses, face-painters, silent auctions, a military appreciation tent, games and other family friendly activities.
Participants received 2014 LT5K performance shirts and medals. After the race, Tomlinson mingled with fans and signed autographs alongside rookies Brandon Oliver and Jason Varrett.
The event benefitted several charities under The Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation, which emphasizes work to enhance the lives of children and to end hunger. Tomlinson also promoted his partnership with Tango Tab, a free mobile app that feeds San Diegans suffering from hunger when patrons eat at local participating restaurants.
"I would like to thank the San Diego community for coming to support this year’s 5K," Tomlinson said. "With the amount of people here and the energy they had, I felt as if I was part of a team again. We really came together today to raise money and awareness to support our youth [through] the Tomlinson's Touching Lives Foundation."
The winner of the race was Jesus Montiel (16:39) and the top female finisher was Carol Mancini (21:47).