COEUR d'ALENE - Runners hurried through snow flurries during the 24th annual Leprechaun Scurry at Lake City High School on Sunday morning.

More than 150 people and a few canines participated in the 3-mile fun run, many wearing green or leprechaun-themed costumes.

It was the first Leprechaun Scurry for many, including Coeur d'Alene resident Josh Aggson.

"A friend sent me pictures from last year, and it looked like a blast, everybody dressed up," he said.

Aggson wore a giant green bow tie, top hat and donned an orange beard for the occasion.

"This thing got frozen solid," he said as he laughed and tugged on the beard.

The Leprechaun Scurry is a fundraiser for Lake City High's cross country team. Race director and Timberwolves cross country coach Heather Harmon-Reed has been involved with the Scurry for four consecutive years, eight total.

"I love the fun costumes. That's one of the things that's so fun about this," she said. "People just get dressed up, and the wild outfits."

Although leprechauns are generally associated with St. Patrick's Day and March, the Scurry was held in February to prevent event overlap.

"Over the course of the years, there's been a few other races that have come up," Harmon said. "We want to try to schedule it so it doesn't conflict with that, and we've kept the name 'Leprechaun Scurry' just because it's kind of fun."

With the fast-falling snow and cold temperatures, she said she was surprised that only six people who registered didn't make it to the race.

"February through March we never know what the weather's going to be ... that is North Idaho, it's just wonky weather," she said. "For the most part, the people who come, they are the troopers. They are just out here to have a good time. A few people are coming to be more competitive, and that's great as well, but for the most part people just want to come and be involved and we just really appreciate the support they give us."

Jennifer Fletcher of Coeur d'Alene and her daughter Lily, 10, added to the colorful costume spectacle with orange sideburns and green mustaches to go with their leprechaun attire. They like to participate in local races, but this was also their first Leprechaun Scurry.

"We're supporting the high school," Jennifer said. "That's where she'll go someday."

"I just like dressing up," Lily added.

Lake City's cross country athletes, friends and parents volunteered to help run the event. LCHS junior Riley Estes, 17, of Hayden, worked the first checkpoint of the course. He said he likes the competitiveness of running, as well as the potential for self-improvement. This was his first time helping out with the Scurry.

"It's kind of crazy because it's freezing outside," he said.

Friends Charity Cook of Kellogg and Christina Ingle of Post Falls have been running together for two years. They agreed that social athletic events like the Leprechaun Scurry are good for encouragement.

"It keeps me motivated," Cook said.

The duo were bundled and ready to run right before the race began at 9 a.m., but the snow was no problem.

"It's typical for North Idaho. It's all good," Cook said. "It should be fun."

Raffle prizes, age group awards and overall awards were presented as participants warmed themselves in the LCHS cafeteria after the race, where the Hot Punch Pipers played bagpipes to begin the 2014 spring racing season with an Irish flair.

The top three overall finishers were Kjell Schioberg, 36, of Coeur d'Alene, with a time of 16 minutes, 58.4 seconds; Nick Buley, 28, of Coeur d'Alene, in 17:30.7; and Mark Evans, 49, of Coeur d'Alene, in 18:34.9. Full results can be found on the LCHS cross country website, www.cdaschools.org/Page/4891.