Charlie Lehr was flying down Bankhead Parkway Sunday in the Oak Park Challenge trail run when he took a quick peek to see his closest pursuer.
The event is about seven miles, starting at the Oak Park ballfields and climbing Monte Sano to the top. Runners make their way through the Land Trust of North Alabama and Monte Sano State Park trails. On two short portions, though, they hit Bankhead Parkway and have the chance to fly. No mud, roots, rocks or obstacles. It’s a chance to gain some speed and make up for sloppy conditions, which Sunday’s 82 runners encountered thanks to overnight rain.
Adrian Gonzales, 44, was about 75 yards behind Lehr. At the bottom of the parkway runners dive back into the Monte Sano Nature Preserve woods for the final couple of miles. The trails Sunday were heads-up slick with a thin layer of mud, along with wet leaves and rocks. Any momentum Lehr had coming down the parkway would be needed in the home stretch.
At the finish, the 12-year-old Lehr had just enough banked to claim the win, crossing the line in 1:05:42. Gonzales was hot on his heels but couldn’t close the gap, finishing in 1:06:08.
Jenny Gage was the top female finisher, crossing in 1:15 to earn the gold. She was 10th overall. Sarah Manning was second (14th) in 1:17:43 and Sara Jackson was third (15th) in 1:18:34.
The Oak Park Challenge typically is in late October. It was rescheduled after bad storms hit the area on the original date. The event was facilitated by Fleet Feet and sponsored by Nuun and Altra.
See all the results of the Oak Park Challenge trail run here.
PHOTOS: For photos from the event, check out Spencer Cox’s images here.
