October 5, 2015 at 3:52 p.m.
A good day for a run 
Nutty Run 5K features beautiful scenery, family feel
A good day for a run 
By Kayla Thomason-
Participants raced below a canopy of leaves just starting to change colors.
"It's a great event for sure," said Justin Lund, a second-year participant. "It seems like all the people that show up seem to know each other and it seems more like a family event, and maybe that ties in with the YMCA, so it's got kind of a 'home grassroots' feel and that's another reason why I really like this race."
Lund took first place in just under 22 minutes. He is not a novice racer and tackles approximately 12 races each year.
"I like the difficult course, it's non-stop hills, it goes up and it goes down, it's not real flat and it's fun to get off the roads for once and do something on the trails," Lund said.
Lund is supportive of both RASTA (Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association) and the YMCA, so he was happy to take part in an event that benefits both organizations.
Nicole LaBeau was the first woman to finish this year's race.
Her overall time was just under 30 minutes.
"It's a great trail," she said. "It's very hilly, it's challenging, but overall it's very beautiful and I enjoyed it."
"I think it's for a great cause," LaBeau added. "It's good for the Rhinelander community and overall I think it's a great event."
Chad Blumenschein, a first-time participant, took second place.
"Oh my goodness, it was rough, it was rough, (it was) probably the hardest 5K I've ever ran," he said.
Blumenschein said he thought the hills had a 15 percent slope, but the cheering crowd lifted the racers' spirits and encouraged them to the finish line.
"It's a very welcoming atmosphere, I mean everybody seems very happy to be here and very supportive and that's just the main thing - support," Blumenschein said. "This is a hard thing to do - running a 5K ain't no easy picnic - so you need all the support you can get."
Blumenschein said he hopes there are more runners next year.
"It's a good way to raise money, gets people active out there burning off all that fat and I think that's what we're trying to do here at the Y," he said. "We're trying to get people active and trying to get the young people out there and I think it's a great program and I think what they're doing here is a great start to getting people out there running and enjoying exercise."
Shane Dornfeld, a first-time participant, tackled the hills and took third place.
"I think (the course is) very challenging, very hilly, but the temperatures today are perfect for it," he said, adding that anyone interested in participating in the Nutty Run should train because the hills will slow them down.
Dornfeld was pleased to participate in an event that benefits two important organizations.
"I think it's great (that the Nutty Run is benefiting RASTA and the YMCA)," he said. "They're putting together great programs like this that all people can do, families can do, and the more of those kind of events I think the better for the community."
Stephanie Ruckheim, wellness director at YMCA of the Northwoods, thought the turnout was pretty good.
"(I think the biggest draw for people was) the competition, the challenge because a lot of the courses maybe are a little bit more flat and some paved where this one is more out in the country," she said. "We get the colorful fall leaves, the change, maybe you get to see some wildlife, some deer out there."
She wanted to thank the volunteers - the School District of Rhinelander, CAVOC and the caretakers Richard and Jenny Kotula, as well as all their sponsors - Cellcom, Superior Diesel, Nicolet National Bank, Rhinelander Collision Center, NRG Media, A-1 Septic Service and Installation, Walmart, and Bryan Meyer, the EMT on scene.
The YMCA will use the proceeds for membership scholarships.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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