Cupcakes and kids at Mariner’s Bethel Trail Run

Cupcakes, kids races, trail runs and soups to celebrate completion, the Mariner’s Bethel 7-Miler and 5K at Camp Barnes is a uniquely special 1 p.m., Sunday race. Sunday morning is for church, but the spirit of fellowship lasts all afternoon. The race has 18 years in the rearview mirror. 

There were 74 runners who ran the 5K Oct. 24, while another 70 took a wider loop and ran seven miles. A tree top canopy covers the trail where the roots are sprayed orange. There are lots of roots causing runners to chop or shorten strides. That is not only tiring, but slows runners down. Trail runs are not the venue to set personal best times.

Zachary McCarthy, 34, of Frankford was overall winner of the 5K in 19:54. John Costello, 60, of Milton was second overall and first masters in 20:21. 

Katie Kuhlman, 16, was overall women’s winner in 20:40. Lori Holdsworth, 60, was first in the female masters with a time of 24:09. 

The seven-mile run was dominated by Martin Rodriguez, 39, in 41:21, followed by Bryan Mack, his second race of the day, in 44:28. Jimmy Rubin was third overall and first masters in 45:07.

Maria Miller, 39, of Tyaskin, Md., was first female in 46:09. Theresa Moody, 64, of Berlin, Md., won the female masters in 57:29.

There were five Kuhlmans in the 5K race, including Katie, Cody, Amy, Brett and Maria.