NISSWA — Having a bit of a limp did not stop 63 year old 10k runner Lisa Carlin of Pequot Lakes from running in the Saturday, April 30 Run for the Lakes event in Nisswa, in fact, it seemed to drive her to succeed.
Carlin was met at the finish line by an enthusiastic husband and friends, including the event announcer, who hailed her as his daughter's second grade teacher and gave her a heartfelt hug when she finished. Carlin's perseverance at the race was only a small glimpse at her perseverance in recovering from a stroke.
Carlin finished the race with a time of 2:06:42 in spite of a constant, cold downpour the morning of the race. She was just one of many inspiring runners who pushed through the discomfort during a time when even spectators were starting to get too cold to watch.
Andrew Escobedo of St. Paul was the first marathon runner to cross the finish line with a time of 3:09:25. Kortney Haag of Maple Grove took the women's title with a time of 3:34:28.
Pine River-Backus Elementary Principal Rick Aulie of Breezy Point won the half marathon with a time of 1:25:33 with Katilin Goforth representing the women's category with 1:35:37 a time that put her fourth overall. The 10K went to Amira Joseph of Rochester with 38:52. The top men's runner in the 10K was Andrew Olson of Duluth.
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In the 5K race on Friday, April 29, Jesse Prince of Bemidji was the top finisher, completing the race in 16 minutes, 53 seconds — just shy of four minutes ahead of second-place finisher Matthew Hamersma of Marshall.
Lillie Pearo of Crosslake was the top female finisher in the 5K, completing the run in 24:35.
In total, 166 runners took part in the 5K. Many of them also competed in the 10K, half marathon or marathon the next morning.
Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.
