Sunday Nov. 7th, dawned beautiful for the runners of the first annual Montgomery Bell Breeze & Leaves 20K Run or 10K Walk/Run Though the Park sponsored by the Dickson Rotary Club . The weather was not too hot and not too cold…..which was helpful because the runners’ course was no picnic!
Cheered on by family and friends, participants of this event ranged in age from 14 year old twins to the over 65 set. Each walker or runner faced the challenge of rough terrain and many hills. “Not a speed course, but it was for a good cause and it is really pretty”, commented Brandon Corlew of Dickson , winner of the 10K in his age division of the race. Friends Debby Cantrell and Jackie Yarbrough of Burns, also runners in the 10K, enjoyed the run but Jackie shared that there were some “butt kicker hills!”
Think you are too old or too young to try a race like this? Patrick and Emma Ragan, 14 and the youngest runners of this race, run with Dickson Middle School’s Cross Country team and said of their first 10K, “the hills were tough but the views were awesome!” Richard Edelstein, 67 years of age, walked this, his first 10K, with his wife Judy, a few days shy of 66, who has had some experience with a 5K. Judy said her initial training consisted of 3 mile walks and that she walked this 10K just to see if she could do it. Anita Berky, who took First Place in the 20k 65 and Over division , finished her run in2 hours 22 minutes and 18 seconds even after being out of the running circuit for 20 years!
The race began at 9:00 am at Montgomery Bell State Park, 1020 Jackson Hill Road, Dickson TN, for 75 registered participants, with the official ending time of 12:00 for the 20k runners. Door prizes and awards were presented after 12:00 noon. First place in each age division ( male and female) received $50.00 and each second place finishers received $25.00 as well as certificates to document their win and commemorate the event.
For the 12 year to 34 year old 10k division: First place for the 10k women’s- Holly Bishop ; first place men’s- Brandon Corlew. For the 35 to 65 division 10k:First place women’s- Michelle Scott and first place men’s- Mark McNabner.
For the 12 year to 34 year old 20k division : women’s first place Abigail Bauman and men’s- Alex Moore. For the 35 to 65 20k division: first place women’s- Jeanine Lynd and first place men’s John Zardiss. 65 and over 20k: first place women’s- Anita Berkey and first place men’s – Randy Andheim. Check out www.dicksonrotary.com for official winners ( 1st and 2nd places) and times.
According to the Rotary’s web site, www.dicksonrotary.com, and Breeze and Leaves Run organizer Tiffany Bernard, “The Proceeds from the Run will benefit various charities that the Dickson Good Morning Rotary actively participates in. These charities address such concerns as health care, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment.”
The first Annual Montgomery Bell Breeze and Leaves Run was a huge success and enjoyed by runners/walkers as well as the cheering crowd. Contact the Dickson Rotary Club for information on next year’s run. You won’t want to miss it!
