Tosanak 5K Trail Run features park in spring bloom

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

MARBLE ROCK — It must have been like running after removing ankle weights.

Tyler Kubik of Charles City discovered that his second Tosanak 5K Trail Run was much easier than the first.

“Last year, I pushed a stroller,” Kubik said of giving his then 3-year-old son Laker a tour of the course that even the truck-hitched tram tours encircling the Tosanak Recreational Area don’t even reach.

“It was tough when you got in the sand and going up hill,” Kubik said, “but this year it was a little easier.”

Just propelling himself this time, Kubik placed third overall and first in his Male 21-30 division with a time of 26 minutes, 36 seconds.

Taking first overall was Rockford freshman Carrigan Parcher, who completed the course in 24:53.

“This is my favorite 5K,” said Parcher, who is a member of the Warrior track team. “This is better than running on pavement.”

Leading the pack, Parcher for a second appeared lost.

I thought I missed a turn,” said Parcher, who then saw the race’s directional arrow near the banks of the swollen Shell Rock river which assured her she was still on course.

Parcher has run the 5-year-old race before, and has won her division. This was her first overall title.

Kenneth Shatek of Cresco is also a regular participant.

“But I didn’t run it last year,” said the 61-year-old Shatek, who didn’t start running seriously until 2012.

“Since then I’ve been slowly getting slower,” said Shatek, who nonetheless recorded one of his fastest 5K times (25:50) while finishing runner-up to Parcher.

“That’s pretty fast for me … I think the course was a little short of being a 5K,” Shatek said.

Later during the awards ceremony, it was confirmed that the course was approximately a 10th of a mile short of a 5K.

Like Parcher, Shatek says this is his favorite trail run.

“The course is flatter and the ground is softer,” he said. “It’s easier on the knees, and I love the scenery.”

The trail run was held in conjunction with the Tosanak Outdoor Family Fair. It has been held during similar events during the first weekend in May — last year’s race started Tosanak’s open house — about the time the park blooms to life.

Though famous for its spring bluebells, those were a little harder to find for the runners, walkers and the tram-tour passengers due to the flooding around the Shell Rock River.

Other top trail run placers included Mary Rasmussen, who took first in the 51-60 Female Division; Bev Fisher, who took first in the 61-and-Over Division; and Gene Rasmussen, who placed second in the 61-and-Over Male Division.