By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
The 45th annual Run Through the Pines race got underway at 6:30 a.m. last Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Meadow by Lake Gregory as participants began checking in and late arrivals lined up to register.
Officials said 340 participants had preregistered; however, that number had swelled to over 550 by race time at 8 a.m., while family members and well-wishers made for an even larger crowd. In the meantime, vendors, such as Wears the Mountain, had colorful, locally themed clothing and others offered sports-oriented clothing, while volunteer cooks were cooking pancakes and bacon for anyone who needed nourishment.
Veteran race and marathon runner Eddie Hahn (R) with his running buddy Sean Ochoa.
Prior to the 8 a.m. start time, the Alpine Mountaineer encountered Eddie (“Fast Eddie”) Hahn, from Crestline, who is no stranger to competitive foot racing and marathons and has competed in seven Run Through the Pines events. Asked what his latest triumph was, Hahn, 58, replied, “I was in the San Francisco Marathon on July 27. There were over 1,000 runners in that one.” When asked how many marathons he’s run, Hahn said, “I’m up to 312 marathons in all 50 states and 11 countries. The most recent one in another country was in Santiago, Chile,” he said.
Participants check in prior to the race.
The sun was high in a partly cloudy sky, with the temperature holding at 67 degrees, perfect weather for a footrace around the lake trail as contestants began lining up behind the start line. Following a beautiful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, the race was on at 8 a.m. and the runners came bursting through the gate, some participating in the 5k run and others in the 10k race.
San Bernardino County Fire Department emergency medical responders were ready and raring to go.
Leonides Hernandez, 15, from Fontana, the second runner to cross the finish line, captured third place in his age group.
The first contestant to reach the finish line was 16-year-old Zach Verhagn, who was on vacation from Neenah, Wisc., along with his 17-year-old brother, Carson, who was also entered in the race. Zach captured first place in the 5k run/walk with a time of 17 minutes, while Carson placed second with a time of 18 minutes and 40 seconds.
The second farthest contestant hailed from the East Bay Northern California city of Walnut, Calif., with several coming from San Diego and many more from Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles counties.
A proud mom takes a photo of 12-year-old MPH student Brooke Bracamonte, who garnered a first-place trophy.
Other mountain runners included Gigi Bannister, who participated in the 5k walk; Dylan Wood, who placed fourth in his age group; Bruno Cazares, who came in at third place; and 12-year-old MPH student Brooke Bracamonte, who garnered first place honors in her age group.
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