By Lee Ann Sides Garrett
For the Salisbury Post
“If we could have ordered up the perfect day for a race, it would be just like today,” said Salisbury Rowan Runners President David Freeze.
With temperatures in the 40s, no wind and a cloudless sky, runners in the 25th annual Winter Flight 8K Road Race competed under almost perfect conditions on Saturday.
Approximately 300 runners competed on a course that ran from Catawba College to Statesville Boulevard then to U.S. 601 and back to the Catawba College stadium.
Salisbury Rowan Runners hosted the event, which raised money for Godstock, an organization that assists families with critically and terminally ill children.
“This event attracts some of the premier runners because it is the state Road Racing Clubs of America Championship 8K race,” said Freeze. “It is the second-longest continuous running race in the state.”
Runners of all ages lined up to compete, including a father with two children in a double stroller and a mother pushing her 17-month-old daughter in a stroller.
“This is the first race I’ve run since I had her,” said Betsy Snow of daughter, Caroline. “Learning to maneuver the stroller was a little tricky, but she fell asleep at mile two.”
Top finishers were Molly Nunn, 24, of Pfafftown, with a time of 29:29 and Brock Phillips, 20, a student at UNC Chapel Hill, with a time of 26:18.
Top Rowan County runners were Robert Miller, 35, and Katherine Shields, 14, both of Salisbury. Shields finished ahead of her mother, Dr. Lynn Pitson, 47, who has been a top Rowan County finisher several times. Runners earned trophies in 28 age groups
“This is a great way to start a Saturday morning,” said East Rowan High School teacher Meredith Abramson. “But it’s a lot of work. Running is like free therapy.”
Proceeds from the race will allow a contribution of about $4,000 to be made to Godstock.