It was overcast with a slight coastal breeze Saturday
morning
– perfect weather to run 10 miles. And runners young and old did
just that in the 20th annual Mission 10 Run in and around San Juan
Bautista.
It was overcast with a slight coastal breeze Saturday morning – perfect weather to run 10 miles. And runners young and old did just that in the 20th annual Mission 10 Run in and around San Juan Bautista.
The event, sponsored by the Hollister Rotary Club, drew participants from as far away as Fresno, Merced and Orinda and as close as Salinas and Gilroy, as well as from San Benito County.
One of the race’s oldest runners, 79-year-old Dennis Egley from Sunnyvale, holds three Mission 10 records and is also one of its original participants.
“I remember when the pre-registration fee was just $4,” he said. “Now it’s 20 bucks.”
This year, Egley’s son and daughter-in-law decided to join in the fun.
“We thought it would be great to go running with dad,” Laura Egley said. “And we have never been here and we thought it was a good idea to combine the two.”
Rotary Club President Ron Culler said the run, which benefits the organization’s community projects, has become a regional event.
“The word is getting out there,” he said. “I was getting lots of e-mail from people inquiring about it.”
Culler said the annual fundraiser is not only good for the Rotary Club, but it also promotes San Juan Bautista. “This is good for the city too,” he said.
As the race’s 10 a.m. start neared, runners stretched their muscles, checked their shoelaces and lined up in front of the Plaza Hotel on Third Street in San Juan, awaiting their turn at the last pit stop – the portable toilets.
“It’s a long way back,” one runner said with a laugh.
By 10 a.m., 216 runners had signed up for the 10-mile race and the 123 runners in the 5-kilometer run took their places in line.
“We were hoping we’d have about 400 people,” said event coordinator Bill Tiffany.
Hollister resident Jerry Hansen, huffing and puffing at the halfway mark of the 10-mile run on Anzar Road in Aromas, said he was running for his health.
“I’m getting older and I’ve got to do something about it,” Hansen said.
As the runners crossed the finish line, volunteers Jim and Gayle Sleznick of San Juan Bautista handed each a bottle of water and slices of orange.
“This is such a good turnout,” Jim said “Maybe some of them will walk around the town after.”
Jim Scattini, a 39-year-old Salinas resident, was the overall winner in the 10-mile run for the second straight year. He ran the course in 57 minutes, 22 seconds.
The overall winner of the 5-kilometer run was 29-year-old Cupertino resident David Cullum, who clocked in at
14 minutes, 12 seconds. In third place in the women’s 5-kilometer 60-69 age group was a surprised San Juan Bautista resident Barbara Scott.
“Oh, my,” she said. “This is a nice surprise.”
Two stragglers in the 10-mile run came in after the time clock was packed up and gone.
“I was next to last,” laughed 77-year-old Franz Weinschenk, who said he had no idea how he would do when he signed up.
“First time I ever had done anything like this,” he said. “There were some demanding hills on this course.”
The run was a family affair for many participants, including the Fuhriman family of Morgan Hill. Mark Fuhriman’s son and two daughters ran in the 5-k while dad ran the 10-mile course.
“This is a great way to start the day,” he said.
