Runners compete in annual Winter Race Circuit

February 8, 2015

2-7-15 Winter Race Circuit (Ariana Berkemeier) (2 of 8) — The winner of the race climbs up the last stretch to the finish line. (Ariana Berkemeier / The Signpost)

2-7-15 Winter Race Circuit (Ariana Berkemeier) (1 of 8) — Over 700 runners line up at the start line waiting for the announcer to sound the bell. (Ariana Berkemeier / The Signpost)

2-7-15 Winter Race Circuit (Ariana Berkemeier) (4 of 8) — A man and his dog compete in the annual race. (Ariana Berkemeier / The Signpost)

2-7-15 Winter Race Circuit (Ariana Berkemeier) (5 of 8) — A man focuses on the finish line while climbing up the last stretch of the race. (Ariana Berkemeier / The Signpost)

2-7-15 Winter Race Circuit (Ariana Berkemeier) (6 of 8) — A group of runners pick up their pace during the 5k race. (Ariana Berkemeier / The Signpost)

2-7-15 Winter Race Circuit (Ariana Berkemeier) (7 of 8) — Manuel Cypers pushes his brother Bart across the finish line of the 5k race. (Ariana Berkemeier / The Signpost)

More than 700 participants from Ogden and surrounding areas gathered at the Dee Events Center early Saturday morning to compete in the first event of the annual Winter Race Circuit hosted by Get Out and Live and the GOAL Foundation.

The Winter Race Circuit is the first of five races in the series. The race brought a variety of runners from around Utah, including participant Manuel Cypers and his brother Bart. Cypers said this was their first time competing in the Winter Race Circuit, but both have participated in “over 100 full marathons.” The Cypers brothers are currently training for the Ogden half marathon and Salt Lake half marathon.

Not only was the race a great chance for runners to build up their endurance for the coming races, it was also a great opportunity for volunteers to help out with the event. Weber student Emily Lescarbeau, a first time volunteer, said she will now “volunteer at all of Get Out and Live events.”

The schedule for the upcoming races in the series is: