Leprechauns dash around town

For 63-year-old Paul Reina of Bend, last weekend's Lucky Leprechaun run marked his first-ever formal race.

"I started running in November with my daughter, who is a cancer survivor, and figured that by signing up for events like this, I would stay motivated to keep running," Reina said. "This was a lot of fun."

Reina was one of more than 200 runners and walkers, many clad in green, who took to the streets of Sisters for the Lucky Leprechaun 5k and 10k Saturday, March 9, as precursor to the upcoming St. Patrick's Day.

A short dash for kids got the running underway before the 160-plus 5k runners and walkers toed the line. Gregory Glesener of Sisters zipped through the course that wound its way through the ClearPine neighborhood and into town in 16:48, well ahead of the rest of the field. Ashley Coltrane of Redmond finished fourth overall and first among women in a fine time of 21:30.

The 10k course included two loops of the same route and featured 60 finishers. Mason Lacy of Bend crossed the line first in a time of 38:29.7, while April Summer of Sisters placed first among women and fourth overall in a time of 42:42. Ashleigh Thomas, also of Sisters was next in 44:27.

Following the race, prizes for the best costumes were bestowed upon some especially lucky winners.

Members of the high school cross-country running team and some parents provided volunteer help for the event, and Race Director Kelly Bither of Run Sisters Run will make a donation to the program in thanks.

In all, nearly half of the participants hailed from the immediate Sisters Country area and most of the rest came from the surrounding area. Visitors from the Willamette Valley comprised the rest of the field.

First-timer Reina finished in 54:50 and has plans to join his daughter in the future for a half-marathon in Disneyland.

Stories like Reina's are exactly what Bither envisioned when she started Run Sisters Run.

"My goal has been to offer local, fun, themed races that are accessible for all ages," she said.