Art communicates different things to different audiences. To one connoisseur, a Jackson Pollock painting may speak of delight; to another, it may express longing.

Now in its fifth year, perhaps the Girls on the Run 5K endures so well because it, like a fine work of art, has come to mean so many different wonderful things to so many people.

At its simplest, this masterpiece filled artist Georgia O'Keefe's prescription for art, as it "filled a space in a beautiful way."

Tossed upon the canvas that is the Meadowmont development this past Saturday morning, pinks and greens and blues emerged like unwrapped confections of a Whitman's Sampler, representing not only the Girls on the Run program participants but running clubs throughout the Triangle.

"Everyone's all different colors," Girls on the Run Triangle (GOTR) executive director Kelly Hurter said, paying homage to the movie "Forrest Gump." "You never know what you're going to get."

"I'm very pleased," Hurter beamed, shortly after the races finished. "From my experience, I think this is the best we've had. Weather couldn't have cooperated more, and sponsorship is at an all-time high. This year, the silent auction is bigger and better than it's ever been, with over 80 items."

Turning the competitive 5K into his own work of art was the men's overall winner Marc Jeuland, who blistered the course in 15:19, followed by Rob Benjamin (16:11) and Adam Pomerantz (17:49).

Benjamin said Jeuland led from the one-mile mark on.

"For the first mile we ran together," Benjamin said. "He was running about 4:55 miles -- he was flying.

"It's a tough course," Benjamin added, "and there are a lot of tight corners. It was a perfect day to run though."

Among the women, Joan Nesbit Mabe took top honors in a time of 18:16 with Holly Ortlund (18:46) and Rebekah Potts (18:53) rounding out the top three.

"I feel like I ran a lot faster for a lot less effort (today)," said Nesbit Mabe, adding that she felt ready to make an assault on the over-45 American record in the 1500 meters early in May.

"The record in the 1,500 is 4:46, so that's about a 5:04 mile," she said. "John Hinton and I are trying to do the same thing at that meet, but he's going after the world 45-plus record, and I'm going after the American record."

Held as a fundraiser for the Girls on the Run of the Triangle, the 5K race was open to all runners-boys and girls, men and women-of all abilities, including parents pushing baby strollers. Other races included "Fun Runs" such as the non-competitive 5K, a one-mile race for those 14 and younger, and a 200-yard run for 8 years old or younger.

The Girls on the Run program is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to builds character among 8-12-year old girls, encouraging emotional, social, and physical development. The curriculum focuses on positive self-image over and above appearance. The Triangle chapter of GOTR was founded in 2000 and has grown steadily.

A festival beginning before the first race and running throughout the morning on Saturday included an inflatable moonwalk, face-painting, balloon sculptures, food, an expansive silent auction, informational booths, a jump-rope demonstration by the Bouncing Bulldogs, and more.

The central theme of the 5K is actually two-fold. For many, it's the culmination of training for Girls on the Run programs throughout the Triangle region; in Chapel Hill, it's also a memorial staged in memory of Will Beard, a graduate of the Kenan-Flagler Business School who played a large role in bringing GOTR to the Triangle.

Beard passed away in December 2001.

Founder of the road race, Mandy Beard, was on hand, as was their daughter Annie Allen Beard.

"This year she had a few more questions about it and got into the meaning of the race," Mandy Beard said. "She had a few more questions about both the Girls on the Run race and how it celebrates her dad's life. She was singing, 'It's the day to celebrate life.'"

Others took Beard's lead and enjoyed the event along with family members.

"It was fun, and we knew a lot of people doing it this year," said Claire de la Verre, who was running the race along with daughters Zoe and Natalie.

Zoe de la Verre, who finished alongside her mother in just under an hour, denied that she needed faster songs on her IPOD to inspire another 28-minute finish like her time from 2006.

"Naw," her mother echoed, "she just needs a faster mom -- that's what she needs."

Others chopped time off their previous year's mark.

"I beat my time," Madeline Brobst said. "My last one was about 27:40, and today I ran 27:19."

Nesbit Mabe said she was proud of runners she helped to train, including members of her women's running group "See Jane Run," younger members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Pacers and members of her own family.

Her daughter, Rosie Kerwin, made it her first 5K.

"It was her goal not to walk, and she made it the whole way," Nesbit Mabe said. "She had her Pacers teammates around her. The Pacers had such a great showing today. Sam Dunson had a great race -- he's going to be one of Chapel Hill's next great runners.

Holly Harrison of WRAL served as emcee at the microphone and WRAL's Pam Saulsby sang the National Anthem.

Hurter also said the event owed much to several other agencies and individuals, such as 14 graduate students from UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School who worked with adviser Paul Boom as volunteers. Hurter also praised various financial sponsors, like New Balance of Raleigh and Durham, BB&T, Goody's hair products, the UNC Wellness Center, Endurance Magazine, the Raleigh Junior League and Cherokee Investments.

Girls on the Run already has plans for a summer-camp series to help young athletes with training.

"We're doing two summer campus, with one at Durham Academy and one at Cary Academy," program coordinator Sandy Lantry Corpora said. "Each has its own registration. They're both one-week, morning camps."

Hurter said those interested in the summer running camps or fall programs or looking to make a donation could contact her at Girls on the Run-Triangle, 401-6307 or by e-mail at kelly@gotrtriangle.com. Information is also available at the GOTR Web site: www.gotrtriangle.com.

Registrants also may want to look into a wider variety of locations available this fall.

"We're actually adding five new locations in the Triangle this fall," Hurter said. "We're adding two very strong need-based programs, so we're going after girls who financially wouldn't otherwise be able to participate. That's a huge push for us this year."

In the meantime, GOTR administrators, race planners, and runners alike will likely reflect on the breathtaking event that was this year's race. But, for all its visual spectacle, perhaps it's how breathless we were left that will be remembered best.

As Roy Adzak said, "Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us."