By David Yon
“I am going to get right on your tail and then kick!” I told Tim Simpkins. Unfortunately, I did not kick him before the race started cause he was off to an uncontested win at the Forest Festival 5K. Tim took advantage of great weather and a flat, pretty course to run 16:30 for the win. Julie Clark, pushing to break 20:00 one more time was the first woman. She was a little short of her goal, but still ran a very fine 20:16. Brian Corbin who is in the middle of Ironman training, finished second in 18:33. David Yon was third and first master breaking 20:00 for the first time in a long time with a 19:55. Judy Alexander was the second woman running a 21:50. Perry resident Brenda Brooks was the third woman with a 23:56.
Some very good times were posted by local children. In the girls division, the seven-year-old Barton twins, Hayden and Brook, finished in 40:16 and 42:35 respectively, with Jennifer Tedder edging in between at 42:34. Wade Thompson, 11, led the boys (29:08), followed by his brother Drew (42:00). All of the children had a parent in the race also, including Scott Barton (22:02), Chet Thompson (22:54), and Gay Kallschmidt (27:44).
The Forest Festival 5K was once the very popular 10K Great Race. It is a long drive from Tallahassee, but a great opportunity to run a quality, fast 5K. This year’s age group winners got to take cash home instead of trophies. There were plenty of smiling volunteers and a well marked course.