435 runners take to Kewash Trail for annual runs

WASHINGTON - More than 300 runners gathered in Washington on Saturday morning for the Kewash Trail Half Marathon, 10K and 5K races.

The run, organized by the YMCA of Washington, was originally slated to take place in April but was rescheduled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jolleen Cerka, membership director for the YMCA, said the organization took many things into consideration as they adapted the run from the spring to the summer. This included setting up additional water stations and employing more volunteers to stand throughout the route in order to assist any runners who may need help.

Cerka added she was glad the race was able to continue.

The Y offered a virtual option to runners who felt safer running on their own and submitting their times. In total, 435 people signed up for the race, and 65 chose to participate virtually.

'It's just been one of the races in this area between Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska Missouri that's been quite well attended. We didn't want to lose that. There are so many things that have been canceled. By moving it back and preparing a little more, we made it possible,” she said.

12-year-old Augustus Swanson, an out-of-state runner from Illinois, was one of the first to finish the 5k.

'My favorite part of the race was when we got to run downhill,” he said.

The seventh-grader is preparing for his first cross-country season at school and added that races have been 'far and few between,” which was why he was happy he could participate in the run.

For serious runners, the race was one of the first they have been able to run since the pandemic hit. Margaret Williams, a marathon runner from Anamosa, said the cancellation of races has made it difficult to qualify for bigger runs like the Boston Marathon.

'This is my first race since Feb. 29, and I usually run a race every weekend. It's been very hard for us to find races. This will help me qualify for other races, that will help me qualify for [Boston],” she said.

Similarly, Michael Riddle from Kalona, who enjoys running to stay fit, said by this time of the year, he's usually completed 'upward of 20 runs.” The Kewash Half Marathon was his fifth or sixth in 2020.

'It's been a lot of training runs and that's it,” he said.

Riddle, who runs recreationally, said he's participated in the run several times and enjoys it because the race offers not only a half marathon and 5k but also a 10k race.

'I usually only run the 5k on weekends, but since it's offered, I like to stretch it out and see where I am,” he said.

Riddle added he felt safe running in light of the precautions that would be taken.

'With this being so out in the open and things spread out, and not everybody starting at the same time, I do feel safe,” he said.

Michelle Clark from Coralville, who also participated in the 10k, said she also felt 'totally safe.”

Before the start of her race, she stood by the route in a mask to cheer other runners on.

'I feel like they took a lot of precautions to make this safe. I'm not running with my mask on. I'll start with it on, and then when we can spread out more, I'll take it off,” she said.

Clark added that she's participated in the Kewash Trail runs twice in the past, and it is one of her favorite to run.

'I love this race … The trail is so soft and the small town feel. It's well-organized and really nice,” she said.

Calvin Meller, a 10-year-old from Riverside, ran the 5k race for the first time. Meller, an avid runner, said races this year have been really different, especially with the virtual runs. He said he was glad to be able to participate in the Kewash 5K in person.

'My favorite part was when my brother, sister and grandma were cheering me on,” he said right after crossing the finish line.

'It was really fun,” he added.