They Came, They Ran, They Ate Cookies

There are finish-line bananas. There are finish-line bagels. There are finish-line energy gels of indeterminate flavor that taste, generously speaking, like sweetened regret. And then there is the Cookie Plug Race, where every finisher crosses the tape and is handed a fresh-baked cookie from one of the Tri-State’s favorite bakeries.

Organized by Tri-State Fitness and held Saturday morning at the scenic Garvin Park along the Greenway Passage, the Cookie Plug 5K/10K drew a spirited field of runners from across Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois who, it must be said, had ample motivation to finish. Partial proceeds from the event benefited the Evansville Parks Department, meaning that every labored stride was, technically, a civic contribution.

The race went off at 8 a.m. under the kind of spring morning that makes you feel briefly heroic for being outside before 9 a.m. Both the 5K and 10K courses followed an out-and-back route along the Greenway Passage — flat, fast, and apparently conducive to some impressive times.

Gina Dupps, one of many participants who appeared equally energized by competition and carbohydrates, did not mince words in her post-race assessment. “Those cookies were amazing!!” she said. “The race was, as usual, FUN and ORGANIZED!!”

5K Results — Men

1. Landon Higdon, 16, Slaughters, Ky. — 17:28.9 (5:38/mile)
2. Evan Shuff, 34, Lawrenceville, Ill. — 18:13.0 (5:52/mile)
3. Wyatt Rooney, 16, Mount Carmel, Ill. — 18:42.6 (6:02/mile)

Landon Higdon, a 16-year-old from Slaughters, Ky., led the men’s 5K wire-to-wire, finishing in a brisk 17:28.9 — a pace of 5:38 per mile that suggests he may have been running toward the cookies rather than simply away from the starting line. He was followed by Evan Shuff of Lawrenceville, Ill., and Wyatt Rooney of Mount Carmel, Ill., both of whom looked equally pleased with their mornings, if slightly more winded.

5K Results — Women

1. Paisley Stone, 14, Providence, Ky. — 19:58.6 (6:26/mile)
2. Abbigail Shivers, 17, Utica, Ky. — 26:15.5 (8:28/mile)
3. Kyrsten Hutchinson, 30, Utica, Ky. — 27:54.2 (8:59/mile)

On the women’s side, 14-year-old Paisley Stone of Providence, Ky., turned in a commanding performance, crossing in 19:58.6 to claim the top spot. Abbigail Shivers and Kyrsten Hutchinson, both from Utica, Ky., rounded out the podium — a fun coincidence that either speaks to some vigorous carpooling or to the general excellence of Utica’s running community.

10K Results — Men

1. Maurice Hanley, 30, Evansville, Ind. — 41:24.3 (6:40/mile)
2. Brian Nelson, 40, Evansville, Ind. — 43:50.6 (7:04/mile)
3. Nicholas Garcia, 17, Carrier Mills, Ill. — 45:46.5 (7:22/mile)

The 10K men’s race was a local affair at the top, with Maurice Hanley and Brian Nelson — both of Evansville — going 1-2. Hanley finished in 41:24.3, with Nelson close behind at 43:50.6. Nicholas Garcia, 17, of Carrier Mills, Ill., made the podium in third, which is a fine way to spend a Saturday morning at any age, let alone 17.

10K Results — Women

1. Natasha Winter, 39, Evansville, Ind. — 47:45.1 (7:42/mile)
2. Ashley Goedde, 33, Owensville, Ind. — 49:28.3 (7:58/mile)
3. Rachael Johnson, 41, Evansville, Ind. — 51:19.5 (8:16/mile)

Natasha Winter of Evansville claimed the women’s 10K crown in 47:45.1, with Ashley Goedde of Owensville and fellow Evansville resident Rachael Johnson rounding out the top three. All three women ran with the kind of steady purpose that suggests they have either excellent training plans or a very strong opinion about dessert.

Timing was handled by To the Finish Timing, and the luxury restroom situation — Blue Aspen Luxury Restrooms had a trailer on site — received, shall we say, no complaints.

The Cookie Plug Race is part of the Ultimate Fit Shoes Race Series produced by Tri-State Fitness, which has a full calendar of events ahead including the River City 5 & 10 Miler on May 10 and the Valhalla Half & 5K in June. Whether those races also end in cookies remains, at press time, unconfirmed.

Results provided by race organizers. All finish times unofficial.