Halifax County runners hit the streets of South Boston Saturday morning in a “Sprint to Spring 5K.”
The runners had fun with friends and family while getting some exercise at the same time.
Friends Leslie Beggarly, Stacy O’Neil, Liz Satterfield and Amanda Trent, along with the other runners, laced up their running shoes and started the race at the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market.
“All of my friends came,” said Satterfield, who finished in third place at 32 minutes, behind her friend O’Neil, who placed second, and Beggarly, who finished in first place.
The friends made their way on the 5K route from Broad Street to Wilborn Avenue, climbing the hill by the hospital before heading back down Wilborn Avenue toward downtown South Boston and to Arch Street, finishing the race back at the farmers market. The South Boston Police Department assisted with traffic control during the 5K.
Satterfield, who is a personal trainer at the YMCA of South Boston/Halifax County, admitted the 5K course, which included two steep hills, was “a little hard,” but she still gave it her all.
“I didn’t know what my time was. I just didn’t want to stop running,” Satterfield said.
The 5K was a first for the top finisher, Beggarly, who completed the race in 29 minutes and 16 seconds. She said she enjoyed the atmosphere.
“It was nice and breezy and cool. The race felt good,” Beggarly said.
O’Neil finished the race right behind Beggarly in 30 minutes flat.
“It’s nice that there are community events here,” O’Neil commented. “We’re being active and supporting the farmers market.”
Coming in fourth place in the Sprint to Spring 5K was Liza Fulton, finishing the race in 35 minutes and 12 seconds. The top four finishers all received gift cards from the farmers market. The first-place finisher received a $20 gift card, second place, $15, third place, $10, and fourth place, $5.
The Sprint to Spring 5K is an annual tradition at the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market, marking the start of spring and the official market season.
“It’s a really good market kickoff. With it being successful today, we know we’re going to have an awesome year at the market,” said market manager Megan Harris.
She added, “We at the farmers’ market really encourage healthy living and healthy lifestyles. This 5K is part of our mission to keep South Boston as healthy as possible.”
Other participants in the Sprint to Spring 5K were Lisa Gammon, who completed the race with her dog Loki, and her daughter Ariel Sweeney, who completed the race with her dog Macie.
“It got us out and doing something,” Gammon said.
Sweeney and her husband walked the 5K last year. She also is a frequent customer at the downtown farmers market.
“I like all the local vendors and all the local produce,” Sweeney remarked.
Harris noted the market has several new vendors this season, along with its more veteran vendors. One of those new vendors is Victoria Browning of Buffalo Junction. Browning brought her “Somethin’ Sweet” homemade baked goods and homemade dog treats to the farmers’ market Saturday morning.
“We’re new here and I don’t know a lot of people, so I thought this would be a good way to meet people,” said Browning, of her decision to become a market vendor.
Another vendor, Bonita Orendorf of Homestead Baking Co. in Scottsburg, is returning to the market as a vendor for the second year.
“I like meeting people in the community and getting to know different people,” Orendorf commented. She brought her homemade molasses cookies, peanut butter bars, oatmeal cream pies and whoopie pies, along with homemade lemonade to the market Saturday morning.
