April Fools’ Day celebrated with a 5K dash

Published 5:30 am Wednesday, April 5, 2017

SUNRIVER —

Moments before the start of a fun run at Sunriver Resort on Saturday morning, an organizer told the crowd the event was canceled.

“I have to apologize,” he said, deadpan and all business. “We are going to have to cancel this race today.”

But no one took him seriously.

After all, this was the inaugural April Fools’ Day 5K Dash! — so, mostly, they groaned, a few shouting, “Fake news!”

The 5K fun run started on time, though. About 40 participants, who were encouraged to dress like a fool, walked or ran along a route set up through the resort’s golf course.

One woman ran in a joker’s hat and a group of seven women from Washington made last-second costumes by wrapping themselves in toilet paper.

“We are supposed to look foolish,” said Molly Kunkel, of Connell, Washington, standing with her six other friends. “We are on it.”

The group of women call themselves Up the Hill Gang, as opposed to over the hill, they joked. The gang — Vickie Sienknecht, of Spokane; Nicky Fry, of Olympia; Joan Bauermeister, of Camano Island; and Connell residents Jeanne Reimers, Julie Hart, Beth Schafer and Kunkel — are on their 10th annual weekend getaway.

“We are here for the fun,” said Reimers, who is retired from working at a Connell phone company. “The idea was to have an active weekend.”

Already, the women did yoga, Zumba and water fitness in Bend and snowshoed at Mt. Bachelor ski area, and they plan to go on a lava tube cave tour. They have also enjoyed their wine from Washington and tried the beer from Bend.

“It’s just a weekend of exercise, nutritional eating and wine,” said Kunkel, who works as a bank manager in Connell. “The more we exercise, the more we can drink.”

Bend resident JoAnna Sullivan showed up to the 5K run wearing a joker’s hat — a fitting costume for April Fools’ Day. Sullivan’s husband, Marc, and their 10-year-old daughter, Olivia, came with her Saturday for moral support.

Sullivan, who works in radiology at St. Charles Health System, said fun runs have been a productive way for her to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“I’m kind of new to this whole deal of running,” Sullivan said. “I lost 54 pounds and took up running. I did my first event, the Jingle Bell Run, over Christmas in Bend. From there, I was hooked.”

Sullivan, a Bend resident since 1991, did a mud run last weekend in Sunriver and plans to participate in the Salmon Run next week in the Old Mill District in Bend.

After the dash in Sunriver, Sullivan’s daughter had a plan for April Fools’ Day. Olivia wanted to put up garage sale signs pointing to their house, even though nothing is for sale.

“Once they get to our house,” Olivia said, “we will go, April Fools!”

— Reporter: 541-617-7820,

kspurr@bendbulletin.com

“I’m kind of new to this whole deal of running. I lost 54 pounds and took up running. I did my first event, the Jingle Bell Run, over Christmas in Bend. From there, I was hooked.” — April Fools’ Day 5K Dash! participant JoAnna Sullivan