Staff writer
A cold wind buffeted them down the Hillsboro Sports Complex road, but 29 local runners braved the elements and successfully completed the seventh annual Frostbite Run on Sunday in Hillsboro.
“We started this just to give folks a reason to get up off the couch and move on New Year’s Day,” Hillsboro Recreation Director Doug Sisk said. “But they really like this one. It’s more of a fun run and we don’t even keep an official time.”
Sisk said the city also sponsors a Memorial Day run, which is much more a competitive event. The Frostbite Run is five kilometers, or just over three miles.
“Everyone who pre-entered this race gets a head band or stocking cap with our Hillsboro Frostbite Run logo,” he said. “There is a lot of camaraderie and people enjoy the opportunity to get out and run.”
Bob Woelk, Hillsboro runner and race organizer, said the wind was noticeable but it was still a good day for running.
“The sun was nice and the cold really wasn’t too bad, except for the wind on the mid-stretch out to the sports complex,” he said.
Donna Spoonemore of rural Hillsboro also agreed it was a good day to run.
“I didn’t train for this as much as I should have and my time was one minute slower than last year, but it was still a good day to run,” she said.
Finishing the race in good shape at 34 minutes, 37 seconds was 12-year-old Jonathan Hinerman, a seventh-grade student at Hillsboro Middle School.
“He has run this for several years already,” said Kathy Hinerman, his mother. “He can run an 8-minute mile so this was slower today, but he just loves running.”
Crossing the finish line first at the Hillsboro City Park entrance was Joel Allen. He finished the race with an unofficial time of 21 minutes and 35 seconds.