Wilderness Rim hosts third annual 5k run

Published 8:30 am Thursday, May 26, 2016

Residents of Wilderness Rim brought out their sneakers and umbrellas on Saturday, May 21, for the third annual Wilderness Rim 5k Run.

Despite the rain, the Wilderness Rim Run saw more than 30 people racing. The event featured a 1k run for children and a 5k run.

Austin Lange won the 1k run, which started and ended at Cascade Park. Byron Danshita and Alex Brown took second and third, respectively.

Steve McDonald, racing director and creator of the event, said the 1k run was designed to let kids participate without being too intense.

The 5k race is a course, routed by McDonald, that takes runners throughout the whole development of Wilderness Rim and incorporates some of the trails around the area.

Julene McDonald won the 5K with a time of 21:50. In second was Heather Larson-Paul with 23:51 and in third was Brendan Hyland coming in at 24:04.

McDonald said the idea for the run was to get people in the community to socialize.

“My idea a few years ago was to get the community together, to get people off their couches and to come out and do some socializing,” he said.

“Sean Sundwall puts on the Run Snoqualmie series, anywhere from 5ks to 10ks and half marathons. I was thinking we have a great community in Wilderness Rim… and a great area that’s got a lake at Cascade Park and we’ve got a loop that runs around the development. North Bend doesn’t necessarily have a fun run type event….”

With the help of volunteers, McDonald has been able to host the run for three consecutive years and plans to keep going. The Rim Run is become one of the biggest events in the community and has expanded each year. This year a pancake breakfast was held after the run.

“We wanted to draw as many people as we possibly can,” McDonald said. “It’s a stepping stone for kids to get involved in other fun runs and maybe even middle school track and field and cross country.”

McDonald emceed the event, instead of running, because of a bicycle accident last year which fractured his arm in eight places.

After surgery and a year of recovery time, McDonald is up and running again, but he sat this last run out to help get others.

“The recovery has gone very well and I’m back out there running again,” he said. “I was debating whether or not to help put this on and I think we have to face our challenges and get right back on the saddle again and do it. This is something I truly enjoy doing.”