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MIDDLETOWN – Fifty youths ages 19 and under joined about a hundred other runners and walkers for the Lake County Milers’ seventh annual Spring Has Sprung run Saturday, May 30.
A couple of these young participants set new records for the event, held for the first time at Crazy Creek Glider Port between Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake.
The most popular race of the Spring Has Sprung 1K/5K/10K event was the 5K (3.1 mile) distance, in which 102 participants competed. Because of the gift certificates offered to the male and female first-, second-, and third-place finishers ages 19 and under, a fast field of youth was present.
The top finisher of the 5K was Kenny Smith of Willits, age 19, with an impressive finish of 16 minutes and 32 seconds (5:20 minute/mile pace). Following close behind was Nathan Paddeck of Lincoln, age 16, with a time of 17 minutes and 1 second (5:29 minute/mile pace).
These two young men also set new records in the seven years of the Spring Has Sprung 5K. Placing third overall was James Ramirez of Healdsburg, age 17, with a time of 18:03 (5:49 minute/mile pace).
For the female top finishers in the 5K, Lake County locals swept the awards, with adult Miler Sara Edwards of Hidden Valley Lake finishing first with a time of 21 minutes and 57 seconds (a 7:04 minute-per-mile pace).
The next three female finishers were all teens, thereby capturing the gift certificates reserved for the youth runners. They were: Kelsey Welton, 18, of Middletown, with a time of 24 minutes and 35 seconds; Alexis Valdovinos, 16, of Hidden Valley Lake (24 minutes and 41 seconds); and Tania Nance, 15, of Hidden Valley Lake (26 minutes and 28 seconds).
Top male finisher in the 10K (6.2 mile) race was another Miler member, Evan Chang of Hidden Valley Lake , who clocked in at 40 minutes and 41 seconds, followed by Jeff Schyler of Hidden Valley Lake at 43 minutes and 14 seconds, and Joe Flores of Vallejo at 46 minutes even.
Top females in the 10K were Milers Linda Boatright of Kelseyville, at 49 minutes and 17 seconds, and Chiyako Ito of Hidden Valley Lake, at 52 minutes and 44 seconds. Aftan Burnett of Napa placed third, at 53 minutes and 12 seconds.
Even the kids’ 1K had increased participation this year, with 18 runners under age 10 making the dash at the event opener.
With mild temperatures, a new race venue, and many local sponsors, the Seventh Annual Spring Has Sprung was embraced by the race participants.
The Milers, seeking to attract more young people to this year’s race, achieved their goal, with 50 youths 19 and under participating, representing approximately a third of the entire race-field.
The 2009 Spring Has Sprung event moved to Crazy Creek Gliderport, which offered the participants a course without traffic, a wide-open view of the surrounding mountains, wildflowers, hot air balloons drifting overhead, and even the chance to witness an ultra-light landing.
Crazy Creek owner Jim Indrebo had been preparing the Gliderport for the foot race for months, and the work paid off with a memorable, one-of-a-kind venue.
“I just can't express how awesome I thought the whole event was,” said Amie Vanderwall of Kelseyville. “The ‘goody’ bags are excellent, the T-shirts are great.”
Amie and her husband, Bill, participated in the 5K run, while their two young boys, Jon and Tyler, joined the popular 1K (0.6 mile).
The Milers, who depend on local business sponsorship and community volunteers to support this race, deeply appreciate the level of support that was extended this year.
Topping the list was Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District, which in tandem with its annual Water Awareness campaign, provided the event T-shirts and sport bags.
Other race sponsors included Happy Smiles Dental Practice, Hardester’s Markets, St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, Hidden Valley Food Mart, Airport Auto Brokers, Hidden Valley Auto Body, Morgan Lane Real Estate, Century 21, Chic le Chef, Langtry Estate and Vineyards, and Middletown Florist and Gifts.
Race participants were treated to healthy snacks prepared by Chic Le Chef catering company, local mountain spring water donated by Whispering Pines Water Company, and a post-race mini-massage, provided by physical/massage therapist Carole Christe of Hidden Valley Lake. Beth Rudiger, a local certified Jazzercise instructor, lead the runners in an invigorating pre-race warm-up.
A sizable portion of the proceeds from this year’s Spring Has Sprung will benefit Operation Tango Mike, a Lake County nonprofit that supplies care packages to U.S. troops overseas (http://home.mchsi.com/~operationtangomike/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html) . Nineteen volunteers, under the direction of Operation Tango Mike’s founder, Ginny Craven, assisted the Milers on race day.
The Milers running and walking group meets in the parking lot of Hardester’s Hidden Valley shopping center (Hartman Road exit off Highway 29) at 8 a.m. (summer schedule) most Saturdays, and the public is warmly invited (call 707-987-3229 to confirm).
Additionally, a new group of walkers and runners meets in Kelseyville Saturdays at the new summer schedule of 8 a.m. starting June 13, in front of Studebaker’s Coffeehouse, 3990 Main St.; call 707-279-8913 for information. To find out more about the Lake County Milers call 707-987-3229 or visit www.lakecountymilers.com .
