Community Corner

PHOTOS: 5th Annual Oktoberfest 5K

This year's winner broke the race record, finishing at 15:26.

It was a festive atmosphere at Campbell Park this morning.

Campbell Recreation's 5th Annual Oktoberfest 5K took place at 9 a.m. and hundreds of runners from throughout Silicon Valley came out to participate.

The race's first to cross the finish line broke the annual race's record, finishing at 15:36.

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Grayson Lam and Aaron Haug, 10th graders from Westmont High School and part of the school's cross-country team participated in the race Saturday morning. Aaron took second place in his division.

"We did it last year and it was fun," Aaron says.

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Father-son team, clad in lederhosen Creg and Chris Ballou came out for their first go at the Oktoberfest 5k.

"We enjoyed it very much," Sunnyvale resident Creg Ballou says. " It's our fourth time going to Oktoberfest. My wife is from Germany so we're moved to drink beer naturally."

His son, San Jose resident Chris found out about the race and signed the two up.

"Gotta run for a beer!" he says. "I earned it."

Los Altos resident Bob Anderson made today's run his 39th of the year. The founder of Runner's World magazine kicked off his "A Long Run," 50 races for 50 years of running in January this year. This is his first time participating in the Oktoberfest 5K.

"It's a fun local race," Anderson says. " I like the big races but I love the community races. All in all, it was perfect."

Campbell Mayor Mike Kotowski and Councilman Jason Baker were both participants as well, with Kotowski clinching first place in his division.

Kotowski says he's run every year but was disappointed by his time this year, slower than last year's, due to a knee injury.

Baker has run the race three times, including today's.

"The run today was great," he says. "All the fun people make it feel like a social event, not just a run."

To check the final times as well as finishing photos, visit the Campbell Recreation's site here.


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