Hundreds turn out for chilly Elwha 5k, 10k races

More than 300 runners and walkers braved the chilly temperatures for the 2022 Elwha Bridge 5k/10k Run Walk, the first of the five-part Run the Peninsula Series.

Sean Southard of Sequim took first place overall in the 5k, finishing in 21 minutes, 17 seconds, while Port Angeles’ Langdon won the 10k, clocking in at 36 minutes, 36 seconds.

Savanna Steffen of Silverdale takes first place in the women’s 10k in 42:52, placing sixth overall.

A tight race for the women’s 5k title came down to a photo finish of sorts: 13-year-old Leia Larson of Port Angeles (21:57) beat Shannon Newman of Maple Valley to the finish line.

See full results at raceday.enmotive.com/#/events/2022-run-the-peninsula-1-elwha-bridge/results.

See photos from the rave at raceday.enmotive.com/#/events/2022-run-the-peninsula-1-elwha-bridge/gallery.

A total of 315 participants ran in the race along the Olympic Discovery Trail west of Port Angeles, with an additional 678 virtual racers registered to date. The virtual race is still open for registration.

Participants ran and walked east on the Olympic Discovery Trail starting at the Elwha Bridge before turning around at the 5k and 10k turn-around.

Event title sponsors were the Sequim Gazette and Peninsula Daily News, with presenting sponsors Olympic Medical Center and Elwha Klallam Tribe. This event is put on by the Port Angeles Marathon Association, the same group that manages the North Olympic Discovery Marathon in June in Port Angeles.

The next race in the series is the Railroad Bridge Park run, a 5k and 10k set for Saturday, April 23. Other races include the 20th North Olympic Discovery Marathon races (June 4-5), Larry Scott Trail Run in Port Townsend (Oct. 15) and Jamestown S’Klallam Glow Run in Blyn (Dec. 3).

Registration details for all events can be found at runthe peninsula.com. People can email rtp@runthepeninsula.com for more information.

Proceeds from this event and others in the series go to several local organizations including the Peninsula Trails Coalition who build and maintain the trail.

Langdon Larson of Port Angeles places first in the Elwha Bridge Run 10k division on Feb. 5, clocking in at 36 minutes, 36 seconds. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Savanna Steffen of Silverdale takes first place in the women’s 10k at the Elwha Bridge Run on Feb. 5. She finished in 42:52, placing sixth overall. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Shannon Newman, background, cheers on 13-year-old Leia Larson of Port Angeles in the Elwha Bridge run on Feb. 5. Larson (21:57) edged Newman by just one second. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sean Southard of Sequim takes first place overall in the Elwha Bridge 5k on Feb. 5. Southard finished in 21 minutes, 17 seconds.

Elwha Bridge 5k champ Leia Larson, 13, of Port Angeles, gets congratulated at the finish line as she talks with runner-up Shannon Newman of Maple Valley.