Photos | Runners, walkers Loop the Lagoon to support Vacaville schools – TheReporter.Com

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You couldn’t have asked for a nicer day for a walk in the park. Or, for the 16th annual Loop the Lagoon, a run as well.

The event, which raises money for Vacaville public schools, attracted about 650 participants to Lagoon Valley Regional Park on Saturday morning. Approximately 480 men and women ran the 5K race. Another 100 or so took on the 10K Tower Challenge in which runners loop the lagoon, head straight uphill on the gravel road leading to the TV tower at the top of the hill, then descend to the finish line.

About 25 people also took part in an untimed two-mile walk, and there were half-mile and mile fun runs for about 50 children.

The first place men and women finishers in the 5K and 10K races received a $200 grant that they designate to the Vacaville public school of their choice.

Edwin Markham Elementary school in Vacaville benefited, as Melissa Mainini, a sixth-grade teacher there, and Kelly Ring, whose child is in kindergarten at Markham, won the 10K and 5K, respectively. Both plan to give their grant money to Markham.

Some of Mainini’s friends and work colleagues were participating and asked her to come along.

“I thought it’s a good way to support the school district and set a good example for some of my students,” said Mainini, who finished with a time of 53:53.2.

“I did a marathon two weeks ago, so I thought, “Okay, this is nothing. I can do this.’” But after finishing Saturday’s 10K, she noted, “It’s certainly a challenge. You go all the way to the top.”

This was Ring’s second time running the Loop the Lagoon 5K.

“I ran it after I had just had my second baby,” she said, “and I was very slow.”

That was two years ago, but she has picked up speed since then, winning on Saturday in 22:38.7. She also does half marathons.

Norah Courtney, 15, was among the top finishers in the 5K. Two years ago she won the under-18 10K at Loop the Lagoon. A sophomore at Vacaville High, she runs both cross country and track for the Bulldogs.

She prefers cross country to track “because you get to run out in nature and on the trails. So this is fun.”

Corey Baxter of Fairfield, age 36, the men’s 10K Tower Challenge winner with a time of 39:15.4, also loves running outdoors.

“It was fun. It was breezy,” he said of his run, his first ever at this event. “But it made it interesting.”

Baxter ran the half mile, mile and cross country at Wheeling Jesuit, a Division II school in West Virginia.

“Then I moved to California a few years ago and discovered trails,” he said. “So now I’m more into trail running… I like the long distance. I like getting off the roads.”

Jordan Kurtz, 23, won the 5K in a time of 16:53.2.

His running history intersects with the woman who directs Loop the Lagoon, Carol Gilpin, owner of Vacaville’s Fleet Feet running store.

Kurtz started running while attending Vacaville’s Willis Jepson Middle School. His coach introduced the track team to Gilpin, who helped set up some half marathons. When Kurtz was in eighth grade, Gilpin arranged for the team to run in the Sunrise Half Marathon from Lake Solano to Vacaville High.

“I met Carol then and we had a bet,” said Kurtz. “She was racing too. She was like, ‘If you beat me, I’ll buy you a burger and a shake at Fentons.’ And so I was running, thinking, ‘Oh, I’m way ahead, I got this.’ with about two miles ago. And I turned around. Carol was right there. And I just took off.” He beat her to the finish line and got his burger and shake.

They have been friends ever since, and he’s now won the Loop the Lagoon 5K a few times. Kurtz ran cross country and track at Vacaville High, advancing to the State championships in cross country his junior and senior years.

Gilpin, who has owned the local Fleet Feet for 15 years, took over as race director for Loop the Lagoon a few years ago. The Vacaville Public Education Foundation (VPEF) launched the event but did not have the manpower to keep it going. VPEF turned to Gilpin, who was glad to continue to designate Vacaville schools as the beneficiary. Registrants can designate half of their entry fee to any Vacaville public school.

“I love it. It’s fun. I love giving back to the community,” said Gilpin. “I like encouraging people to be fit and healthy and enjoying the outdoors. So it was a perfect fit for me to take it on.”

VPEF has raised about $2.5 million over the years for enrichment programs for public schools in Vacaville.

Kaiser Permanente was Loop the Lagoon’s presenting sponsor this year. Tim Osterhaut of Reaching Down, Inc. did a great job as DJ for the event.