Silver Striders braved the threatening weather report, cold and rainy conditions to again show up for the 40th annual Bear Run at Lake Wilderness Park in Maple Valley.

A feature of this event is its primary purpose, to support Tacoma Cross Country Running Club for Tacoma High School distance running.

Running programs for youth offer lifelong benefits.  Running improves concentration, increases bone strength, promotes personal and social growth and a healthy lifestyle toward a lifelong love for running.

Numerous generous sponsors help support this event with some even setting up an expo to support it, giving everyone there a chance to see and thank them for their involvement.

This is a well organized event attracting over 500 participants, has great volunteer participation and no negatives.  None if you don’t count the hill climbs over the first parts of the course.  While typical 5k times are slower, it is USATF certified and a fair test by combining road running with cross country trail running skills.

The first Bear Run was held forty years ago in 1984. That was the same year Joan Benoit qualified in Olympia, WA for the Los Angeles Olympic Games just 17 days after knee surgery, by entering the last possible USATF qualifier before the cutoff.  

She went on to beat Grete Waitz, who was previously undefeated in marathon while setting an Olympic record which stood for many Olympic Games to follow.

If the Bear Run is an indication of the sustainability of running as a sport, look at the roster of finishers to see.

There were 100 finishers 12 years and under, and 97 finishers 50 and over, each split almost exactly between females and males.

And a 12 year old finished in an impressive18:39 running within sight of the overall winner.  

Many Silver Striders posted impressive times.  Male running finishers spanned times between 17:02 M50 to 27:52 M80.  Female finishers impressed many males running behind them, with finishing times of W50 23:33 to W80 34:39.

As impressive were the oldest healthy walkers with M85 56:38 and W85, our beloved Edythe Hulet finishing in 1:02:47, an impressive 51 places ahead of last place yet being the oldest finisher.

Speaking of beloved Silver Striders, Arne Hales, now living in Green Valley, AZ, showed up this week and the week before while here visiting family in Washington, still running well at 80.

Many train for the challenge of finishing this 5k and revel in the joy of the accomplishment.  Participants at every level, spanning ages 3 to 86 were all there together in the rain, all benefiting from the addictive energy.  

You can be sure most are looking ahead, training and thinking of more like it to come.

Thanks to all who put the Bear Run together, keeping it going, supporting youth running, making it better, building on the past and looking forward to many more in the years ahead.

The Silver Striders will always want to be a part of it. 

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Jerry’s notes: