CHAMPION - Saturday's cold, wet dreary weather was welcomed by some people:
Runners.
Those who ran in the second annual Great Pumpkin 5K at Kent State University at Trumbull said the weather was ideal for running because it was not too hot.
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Additionally, participants also could wear Halloween costumes if they wanted, and several did. There were superheroes, farm animals and dogs and cats among creatures running the course.
Christine Toth of Austintown was dressed as Wonder Woman. Stretching inside one of the buildings before the run, she said the weather would not hamper her at all, but she was taking precautions.
''You have to wear Under Armour,'' she said.
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Tribune Chronicle photos /Joe Gorman
From left, Ashley Bush, Robin Robinson and Reese Robinson, all of Cortland, get their ostrich costumes ready just before the start of the race.
She said the race sounded like fun, which is one of the reasons she joined up.
''I thought it was pretty cool that you got to dress up,'' Toth said.
Kimberly Wheeler of Howland had her face painted as a cat.
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Winners
Top three overall men finishers:
Chase Kern, Canfield, 17:08
Connor Dotson, Howland, 17:19
Jonathan Bohla, Austintown, 17:27
Top three overall female finishers:
Amanda Fire, Canfield, 19:31
Stephanie Pierce, Cortland, 20:47
Kimberly Durst-Wheeler, Warren, 21:58
''It's perfect running conditions,'' Wheeler said. ''And it's fun to come out in costumes.''
Matt Tobin of Niles, loosening up with Wheeler, said he was running Saturday to tune up for a half marathon today in Cuyahoga Falls.
''It's supposed to help you out, running the day before a big run,'' Tobin said.
From Cortland, Reese Robinson, her mother, Robin, and friend Ashley Bush all dressed as ostriches. They inflated their costumes just before the race.
''We thought an ostrich would look really funny running through Champion,'' Reese Robinson said. ''What else are you going to do on a day like today?''
Her mother said it was a good day to get out and run because she wasn't able to complete her Saturday morning workout.
Brian Musick, a race organizer, said he did not have complete numbers but said there were more runners registered for this year's race than last year's 143 finishers.
Thomas J. Krysiek, president and chief executive officer of race sponsor the United Way of Trumbull County, said the race is not only a good fundraiser, but also a good way to inform people of programs and agencies the United Way supports.