NO BULL: Rain can’t deter annual fun run

PALMER — Despite an at-times gray, drizzly morning, more than 200 local runners turned out for the 12th Annual Running of The Bulls at the Palmer Musk Ox Farm Sunday afternoon.

Almost 300 runners ranging from those with years of distance running experience to first-time runners showed up.

The event featured live music, food and three races: a one-kilometer beginner and children’s race, a five-kilometer run/walk for runners and casual participants and a 10-kilometer run for serious distance runners. Within those groups, runners were grouped by age.

While the event’s name is a bit of a misnomer — musk ox bulls at no point join the runners on the course — at least one bull appeared excited to participate, repeatedly ramming a doubled gate as participants streamed past.

For musk ox bulls, August represents the amorous portion of the year, and organizers relocate them to a corner pen with minimal exposure to the course, said Mark Austin, the farm’s executive director.

“It is a working farm,” he said. “By going that route, we’re still trying to find our 5k. The bulls are getting into rut. That’s why we try to keep them as far away from people as we can.”

While some more masochistic participants are disappointed that the event doesn’t mirror the famous Pamplona event, that reaction can vary, Austin said.

“Most people are actually happy to learn they’re not running with the bulls,” he said. “We get a lot of phone calls, like, ‘They’re not actually running with the bulls, are they?’”

Austin estimated attendance was down slightly this year, a function of both the weather and competition with Salmonstock, another perennial summer draw held on the Kenai Peninsula.

A few runners, like eventual 10k men’s winner and Palmer High School Cross Country Coach John Bishop, the run represents a training opportunity, especially in Bishop’s case. The team was scheduled to report for training Monday.

“I do it so I can counteract my bad eating habits,” he said. “I try to get out there and get running so that they have something to look forward to.”

Sunday’s event and other runs throughout the summer also represent opportunities to say in shape during the cross country off-season, and possibly keep up with high school athletes, though that’s not really the main point, Bishop said.

“I don’t try to keep up with them anymore,” he said. “I just try to get out there and get it done because if I don’t they won’t.”

“I try to get them to do some of the summer races,” Bishop added. “As far as a training run, I think it’s great for that.”

While a few others — like second-place overall 5k finisher and incoming Palmer Middle School eighth-grader Leif Munma — won’t wear a high school race bib for another year, the run helps boost their summer training regimen. Munma crossed the line at 19:44, his best time for the course.

“I just run every day, pretty much,” he said. “Hill climbs and mountain runs and long road runs.”

He took up running in part because of his sister, who also is an avid runner, and because he likes it.

“‘Cause I’m good at it, so I might as well do it,” he said.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.

Top Five Finishers:

Girls 14 and under 1K

1. Brianna McKeel, 4:04.20

2. Riley Jenski, 5:12.40

3. Aubri Griffith, 5:30.40

4. Ocelia Bell, 5:41.20

5. Jillian Veerman, 5:43.10

Boys 14 and under 1K

1. Garrett Streit, 3:51

2. Lucas Reich, 4:47.40

3. Caleb Weeks, 5:07.30

4. Kobie Jenski, 5:11.20

5. Gavin Veerman, 5:15.30

Women’s 24 and under 5K

1. Allison Qualls, 25:05.76

2. Caitlin Skvorc, 26:27.18

3. Victoria Dokken, 28:45.43

4. Carissa Vasquez, 30:30.94

5. Katey Houser, 32:59.84

Women’s 24 to 44 5K

1. Riannon Black, 23:38.17

2. Melissa Knox, 23:53.30

3. Laura Jordan, 25:01.35

4. Rita Allen, 25:20.58

5. Alyson Mitchel, 25:48.01

Women’s 45 and up 5K

1. Susan Skvorc, 28:02.78

2. Kelly Stevenson, 29:14.42

3. Anne Morris, 32:27.69

4. Rachel Greenburg, 32:40.41

5. Tracy Kalytiak, 32:56.71

Men’s 24 and under 5K

1. Isaak Bell, 19:14.02

2. Leif Munma, 19:42.31

3. Ben Teasdale, 22:07.11

4. Kenneth Conaway, 22:20.37

5. Gunnar Hodgson, 24:28.46

Men’s 24 to 44 5K

1. Justin Knox, 22:53.12

2. Brad Bell, 27:58.10

3. Christopher Abbott, 28:39.91

4. Christopher Wagoner, 29:14.82

5. Sam Farnum, 34:12.81

Men’s 45 and up 5K

1. Marc Phillips, 23:31.01

2. Mike Morganson, 27:20.17

3. Talis Colberg, 28:54.91

4. Mick Jagger, 29:03.86

5. Barry Dearborn, 31:49.76

Women’s 24 and under 10K

1. Emma Marc-Aurele, 51:00.28

2. Erica Thomas, 55:03.62

3. Angelica Remaley, 55:28.01

4. Liza Kercher, 1:26:46.71

Women’s 25 to 44 10K

1. Sarah Wood, 42:46.52

2. Katie Schweithal, 52:49.95

3. Bobbie Jo Nault, 58:26.61

4. Karen Deardorff, 1:00:11.37

5. Chandra Anderson, 1:01:13.70

Women’s 45 and up 10K

1. Gloria Hernandez, 1:05:45.31

2. Christine Carsten, 1:15:43.03

3. Dot Helm, 1:22:55.51

4. Terri Su Kercher, 1:26:45.29

Men’s 25 to 44 10K

1. John Bishop, 40:28.95

2. Kale Blankenship, 53:35.73

Men’s 45 and Up 10K

1. Randy Green, 47:51.87

2. Mike Criss, 52:48.90

3. Todd Sherwood, 1:02:36.08

4. Tim Janis, 1:04:33.62

5. Mike McLaughlin, 1:04:48.39