For a handful of Sun City residents, a 5K run, the Running of the Elves, was the perfect way to start a chilly Saturday. The group included Linda Rizza, Nancy Fontana, Duane Fontana, Frank Eisler, and a few other Sun City residents.
The Huntley Rotary Club fourth annual run was the start of the day of village sponsored 17th annual Very Merry Huntley activities Dec. 6. In addition to the 5K, kids could participate in a block long race down Coral Street and there was a walk for 1K.
Early on, Michelle Ryan, of Sun City, ran in the 5K race with her beloved four-legged friend, dog Teddy.
“Teddy will run the whole race, with booties on,” Ryan said as Teddy waited in a stroller. Next to Teddy is a photo of Ryan’s other dog, Parker.
A total of 62 runners competed in the 5K event, ages ranging from 8 to 82-years-old. Tyler Litka, 17, of Elgin, crossed the finish line first with a time of 19:17.4. Matt Rogowski of Huntley, 41, was next, 21:25.2 and Bishop Chase, 14, of Huntley, was third, 23:06.5.
Rizza, Nancy Fontana, Duane Fontana, and Frank Eisler organized a group effort. Duane Fontana, 76, won the 1K race for males in 19:02.4.
“It’s a lot of fun, the temperature wasn’t that bad,” Nancy Fontana said.
“I think the village does a wonderful job with special events,” Rizza said.
Huntley Rotary Club members were happy with the turnout, about 100 participants. There was also a 1K run and a walk held. Angela Schlosser of Hampshire won the 1K run in 17:12.4.
Meanwhile, Joan Davis, a contributor to My Sun Day News, was happy with her 5K result. She finished 62nd, but won the gold medal for first place, age 65 and over female. She finished in just under an hour, 58:42.8.
“The race was well-attended by volunteers,” she said.
Davis has run in overseas events.
“I ran my first marathon back in 2001 in Greece,” she said. “I met one runner, who was struggling at the time, said, ‘we go jog now.’”
Wayne Anderson, 66, of Hampshire, won his race in the 65-and-over age group. Anderson clocked a time of 36:37.8, edging Rich Moon of Huntley, 82, who ran a 41:46.5.
“I’ve been running for 10 years,” Anderson, of Hampshire, said. “I always run locally. This is my 16th local run. It’s a great way to meet people.”
Rogowski, who finished runner-up in the 5K, had another perspective.
“It forces me to run in the winter, I’ve been running some,” Rogowski said.
Bishop Chase of Huntley won the boys age 13-14 age group and said the 5K was fun.
It was a busy week for Huntley Rotary Club. Members helped the Salvation Army ring bells across from Sun City Dec. 12, then assisted the Huntley American Legion Post 673 at the annual Wreaths Across America event Dec. 13 at Huntley Cemetery.
