A ghoulish, creepy but fun time at a fun run
David Cole | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years AGO
<p>Justin Farris races off the starting line with sword and shield for Saturday's Pumpkin 5K Fun Run. The 11-year-old Hayden resident was costumed as "Link," a character from "The Legend of Zelda" series of video games.</p>
<p>Greg Nilges signals his pleasure with completing the first lap on Saturday's Pumpkin 5K Fun Run course. The 44-year-old Coeur d'Alene resident said he likes to participate in fundraisers.</p>
<p>Some of the top racers hoist their trophy pumpkins from Saturday's Pumpkin 5K Fun Run: From left, winner Nathan Birdsall, 24, of Coeur d'Alene, the rocker with fairy wings; second place racer Matthew Mattison, 26, of Coeur d'Alene, the penguin; Heath Wiltse, 36, of Coeur d'Alene, ghoul pumpkin; and Dustin Colombini, 27, of Hayden, the Italian Superhero.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The Heavy Metal rocker with fairy wings flew to victory over the zippy penguin to take home the big first-place pumpkin Saturday.
The Italian Superhero had to settle for third place in what was the second community-wide Pumpkin 5K Fun Run and Food Drive, a Halloween race that began and ended at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Hanley Avenue, in Coeur d'Alene Place.
Participants donated non-perishable goods for the Community Action Partnership food bank, and all finishers received a pumpkin for their efforts.
In the spirit of Halloween, costumes were worn by many of the runners and walkers. About 300 people participated.
Dustin Colombini, 27, of Hayden, who described his getup as that of an "Italian Superhero," said, "My wife threw it together at the last minute."
There was no explaining the chicken hat she topped to the costume off with.
Sam Lee, a 16-year-old Coeur d'Alene High School cross-country runner, spent the race in a $100-bill costume.
"It's nice and easy - throw it on in five seconds," Lee said.
It had other advantages.
"I didn't get any wind chill," Lee said.
Fifteen-year-old Hayden resident Rebecca Nielsen sprinted home to the finish line in her bumble bee costume.
With the nickname "BeccaBug," she had to be a bee, she said.
"It was perfect weather and just so much fun," she said.
Heath Wiltse, 36, of Coeur d'Alene, frightened his way to fifth place in his "Ghoul Pumpkin" mask and sleek black running costume.
He said it was hard to breathe through the tiny air hole in his mask that could barely fit a straw.
"It was my inspiration to get done quick," he said.
He said he wanted to participate after seeing pictures from last year's inaugural race.
Greg Nilges, 44, participated wearing his "creepy clown" mask.
"Any kind of fundraiser, and we're in," the Coeur d'Alene resident said.