Saturday morning, for the first time in a while, Mother Nature didn’t turn the annual Running of the Bulls 5K into something akin to the Sweating of the Bulls.
The always-in-August race and 1-mile fun run are held on the Big Cove Greenway, starting at Hampton Cove Middle School. Proceeds benefit the HCMS PTA, which has a solid turnout of volunteers to help with packet stuffing-pickup and on race day. The field always is large. This year saw 390 finishers in the 5K and 87 in the fun run.
The vibe is solid, too. This year’s race was facilitated and sponsored by Fleet Feet, and along with it were other sponsor-exhibitors including Return2Sport, StretchZone, Swift Recovery and the HCMS PTA. Panera, Publix and Johnson & Hayes also sponsored. The post-race lines were long but moving for sno-cone treats, fruit and more, including donut bites and coffee (for The Olds) from Dunkin’ Donuts.
The HCMS choir did a fantastic a capella national anthem — one of the best I’ve heard in more than 35 years of covering sports events — and the HCMS band drumline and cheerleaders brought everyone home to the finish line. At the 1.5-mile turnaround, the music was bumping. Someone foot-smashed the diaper-sized pile of raccoon poo on the greenway. Wildflowers were in bloom along the greenway. Good vibe, solid weather from Ma Nature and another successful event.
C’mon Dude, Who Won?
Oh, yeah … the top finishers put on some stud hammer performances. You thought we forgot about the winners? Hahahahahaha.
Big Cove Greenway is flat, fast and perfect for rockin’ good times or a PR. The final two finishers crossed in 45 minutes, 20ish seconds, a solid 15-minute pace for walking. Seventeen of the Top 25 finishers were teenagers, and 12 more were in the next 25. As well, in the Top 50 were a 9-year-old — Logan Wood of Hazel Green, at 11th — and three others age 12 or 11. Many of these flat-belly speedsters are on local club and high school teams. The immediate future looks bright for the area road and pre running scene.
In the end, Josh Whitehead of Madison pulled away and took overall honors. Its not an automatic that Whitehead wins if he’s in any race. But anyone else looking to snatch the top spot better bring their A+ game and push. Hard. Whitehead cruised with with a 16:16 time at 5:14 pace. He added the 5K in the middle of his morning training run and a post-5K scouting visit to McMullen Cove for the upcoming Go for the Gold Runfest on Sept. 28.
Just four spots back, Alana Scarano of Huntsville smashed it to win the women’s honors. She finished fifth in 17:52, a fine 5:45 pace, as she gets back into the running scene following the birth of her first child. She was the only woman in the Top 10.
Athan O’Neill was second overall in 5:35, and Jude Seibert third in 17:36.
Ashlyn Drown was second in the women’s division (14th) in 19:25, and Grace Drown was third (20th) in 19:42.
To see all of the 5K results go here.
ROTB 1-Mile
Riley Burris won the Running of the Bulls 1-Mile fun run in 6:25.
She was speedier than runner-up Alverson Brown, who crossed in 7:13. Jason Chen was third in 7:23.
The field had 87 finishers, almost all of them youngsters having a blast. A few runners with a bit of age on their shoes also participated, and also had fun. It’s fun run, right?
See all of the results of the 1-mile run here.
PHOTOS — Spencer Cox and his crew took photos, which are posted here and free to download thanks to Fleet Feet.
MAIN PHOTO: Runners take off for the Running of the Bulls 5K on Aug. 24 at the Big Cove Greenway in Hampton Cove. Josh Whitehead (bib 478) and Alana Scarano (behind him, white cap) claimed overall and women’s top honors in the fast race.
