Yes, the shorebirds showed up. So did lots of visitors for the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. And there was plenty of sunshine.
Small wonder, then, that more than 170 runners signed up for the 17th annual Migration Run, a USATF-certified 5k event that begins near the Fishing Hole and ends at the base of the Spit.
The top finisher was Carl Seger, crossing the finish line in 18:20.4. Less than three minutes behind Seger was the first woman to finish the 5k course, Andy Notopoulos, with a time of 21:12.50. Seger’s wife, Hillary, pushing a stroller with the couple’s two youngsters enjoying the ride, finished 15th among the women runners, with a time of 24:53.27.
The event was organized by the Kachemak Bay Running Club and was the first event for the club to use its new chip timing system.
“It worked out great and will be completely fine-tuned for the Spit Run,” said Bill Steyer, a member of the club and the head coach of Homer High School’s track and field and cross country team. “We’ll be able to use it for cross-country races next fall with the high school.”
Proceeds from the Migration Run benefit local youth running sports programs.
Upcoming Kachemak Bay Running Club events:
• June 28: Homer Spit Run, 10k;
• Oct. 4: Run to the Altar Half Marathon, 13.1 miles.
For more about the Kachemak Bay Running Club, visit kachemakbayrunningclub.org.
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.