The Phinizy Center’s annual Later Gator 5k, 10k run gave participants on Saturday morning a chance to get active surrounded by the scenic views of the swamp and nature park.
The Jan. 25 event included a 5k and 10k run, and brought out a mix of entrants, some seasoned athletes and others completely inexperienced.
Open to all experience levels
Keallie McCarley said she made it her new year’s resolution to start running, making Saturday her first event of the sort; she ran the 5k with no preparation, just a goal to challenge herself.
“It’s a high, honestly,” she said after completing the run. “Definitely endorphin boosting.”
McCarley said that her run on Saturday proves that anyone can join in on the fun no matter how much experience they have.
“The runner community is very supportive, even if you’re like, you do them all time or like, it’s your first time, everybody kind of huddles together to get you to the finish line,” she said.
Winning runners talk
The 5k winners were Justin White, 27, in the men’s category and Ruth Brosnahan, 44, in the women’s category.
Twenty-one year old David Nicholls came in first place in the men’s category for the 10k run, with a time of 39:25, and said that he’s been running now for “eight years or so.”
“I’ve played a lot of sports in my life, but running was one of the sports that was a very personal sport,” said Nicholls, who is currently a soldier in training at Fort Eisenhower. “I love team sports and it’s fun, but in running, it’s just all you. So if you put in the time and you put in the work, then you’ll get the results.”
Nicholls said he doesn’t often run smaller, local races, but tends to favor larger runs such as the Boston Marathon, which he ran last year and intends to again this April.
“I fell in love with running because I fell in love with pushing my limits and seeing how far I could go,” he said.
The 10k first place runner in the women’s category was 26 year old Cailey Kresses who completed the track with a time of 56:20.
Kresses got involved in the runner community last year and has continued to seek out local runs ever since. She is currently training for her first full marathon.
“I think it’s a good stress relief,” said Kresses, who is an ER nurse at Piedmont. “It’s definitely a good decompressor for me for sure. And a good way to stay active that’s not super expensive. It’s good to be outside.”
Kresses said her training routine consists of running about three times a week, and working alongside a coach who helps her with strength training.
“More people should get involved,” she said about local runs like Later Gator. “These are so much fun. I think a lot of work goes into them that goes unnoticed. These events are so good for people to get outside and just be around other people in the community.”
