“Y’all should start a 5K.”
The challenge was issued and acted upon. Now, four years later, what began as a salute to patriotism has blossomed into a city attraction, circled on many runners’ calendars months ahead of time.
Boerne’s fourth annual Flag Run 5K Tuesday saw more than 350 runners turn out for an early morning 3.1-mile jaunt through downtown Boerne on the day of our nation’s independence.
“It was started by my son, Camden. He started it years ago,” said event director Toby Vicknair.
“Frank Martinez, Mark Walker and I, we all would run with our flags on Sept. 11 and Fourth of July,” Vicknair said Tuesday, an hour before the 5K run and 1-mile walk masses took to the streets. “Camden was out running with us on one of those events and saw (drivers) honking and waving at us.
“He said, ‘You all should start a 5K.’ I said, ‘No, YOU should start one.’ So, he did,” Vicknair added.
Vicknair said his son donated half the proceeds the first two years to the VFW. The third year saw half the proceeds donated to the Boerne Fire Department. This year, all proceeds will be donated to the fire department, of which he has a paid staffer, a lieutenant in his 12th year.
“The first year we did it, we had 25 or 30 (runners),” he said. “It quickly escalated to about 150. Last year we had 358, and I think we have 365 signed up this year.”
Watermelons are given out to the first-, secondand third-place finishers in each age division. “We did that (the watermelons) the first year and people loved it, and we’ve done it ever since,” he added.
Among those receiving a watermelon for her efforts was Brenda Powers of Leon Springs.
“It was fun, it was a nice course,” said Powers, relaxing postrace on the grass just behind the start/finish line alley.
“I run every weekend. In my age group, it’s easy to place,” Powers said with a slight chuckle. “I was aiming for about 30 (minutes). I don’t know what I got. I’ll have to go check,” getting to her feet to go check times at a table near the park pavilion.
She finished in a time of 30:40, good enough for second place -- and a watermelon -- in the women’s 60-and-over category.
Prior to the race, Powers stood with run participants Patrick and Julianne Bartell of Boerne.
“We decided to start running, and this is our goal, which is to run a 5K,” Patrick Bartell said. “And we figured since our son is an official sponsor, we’d participate.”
“We’ve been preparing, running for about weeks,” Julianne Bartell said, pleased by the cool-for-July 80 degrees at race time. “We ran when it was like 103 degrees, oh my gosh.”
“(The heat) actually kind of got in our way and slowed us down a bit,” Patrick added. “So, we got in some early morning runs, which was a lot smarter.”
John Henkelmann, a Blanco resident, was one of several dozen runners to complete the run while carrying an American flag.
“I used to be a runner. I just started getting back into it a couple months ago,” Henkelmann said. “This is the second one. I ran the Sticks and Stones 5K (in June).
“I did 27:30 last month; I think I’m in the 26-minute range right now. I showed some improvement, and am dealing with some knee issues, but that’s what happens when you get older,” he added.
Vicknair, pleased with the turnout, said run proceeds will go support the Boerne Fire Department and its firefighters.
“We’re planning to use those proceeds on equipment that we may not budget for, or training that may not get budgeted,” he said. “We’re going to start a scholarship for someone wanting to get into the fire service, hopefully have enough money to pay for somebody to go get their fire education.
Post-race banter filled the air of The Kendall Inn courtyard as runners enjoyed mimosas and breakfast tacos to close out the 2023 Flag Run 5K.
Comment
Comments