Morgan Hill
Runners from all over the Bay Area braved the blistering heat to test their skills Thursday at the Freedom Run during the 2013 Morgan Hill Freedom Fest.
The run, which is broken into a 1-mile run and a 5K run or walk, drew participants of all shapes and sizes. For the first time since the race’s inception in 1996, cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 were awarded to the first, second and third place male and female finishers respectively.
For the female winner of the 5K, Tanya Ferreria, the victory was about much more than money.
“I won it the first year I did it in like ‘07,” the Watsonville native said. “I got beat the next year and then I’ve won it a few years consecutively. It’s always fun to come back and try and keep my title.”
Ferreria finished the race in 18:00 and was accompanied in the winner’s circle by Jose Pina, an incoming junior at Lincoln High School in San Jose.
Pina said his biggest competitor was the sun, which caused extra stress on his legs and muscles. He was able to power though and finish the 3.1-mile course in 15:46.
“With about a mile to go I pushed it,” the cross country runner said. “The guy caught up to me and then I felt like I was falling apart. But I was like ‘No, you’re almost there, just around the corner. I just have to keep my distance away from him.’ I just went for first place. It feels good knowing that everyone did their best. It’s a really good course.”
Extra precautions were taken because of the heatwave that was affecting the Bay Area. Race director and Freedom Fest president Charles Weston said he and his crew stocked up on spray bottles to mist runners as they passed, more water to keep them hydrated and spray sun tan lotion to try and combat the sun’s rays.
“I tried to tell everyone to run slow, but that’s like telling a JackRabbit to go slow or something — they’re going to go fast,” said Weston who admitted he was a little intimidated by the combination of the growing number of runners and the extreme temperatures.
The 1-mile course attracted participants as young as two-years-old who laced up their tiny running shoes to join in the fun and kick off the Fourth of July festivities. The winners were a pair of 11-year-olds with a passion for running.
“I was cruising, then I went for it at the last turn. Overall, I just felt great,” said the boys winner Khoi Nguyen, who finished the race with a personal record of 5:53. “I’ve done races before but I think this is the most decorated race.”
The girls winner was Viktoria Groen, who completed the course in 6:11. Groen runs track in her hometown of Modesto, but was brought out to the race by her parents who are San Martin natives.
“It’s pretty easy for me actually,” the first-time Freedom Run racer said. “I liked that it had a lot of straight-aways. They didn’t make you do a lot of turns — I don’t really like turns.”
It wasn’t all about winning for some runners.
Morgan Hill resident Anna Hirsch came out to the Freedom Run to participate in her first 5K. She was accompanied by husband Ben, who would run alongside her for moral support.
Also in attendance were bride and groom-to-be, Daniel Neethling and Melanie Jones from San Jose. Neething ran the race in a black T-shirt sporting a tuxedo top on it complete with top hat and cans tied around his waist. Jones wore a white shirt with a veil and bouquet of flowers, drawing congratulations from fellow runners. The couple said they thought it would be a fun way to spend the day before their wedding.
“It’s a good little workout before the wedding,” Jones said. Neethling agreed, saying “That way we can have an extra slice of cake.”
