A sea of red shirts poured out from the parking lot of the Riverlodge Recreation Centre as upwards of 160 early-risers took to the streets for some exercise.

Kick it Up Kitimat’s latest community event, the first annual Kitimat Valley Run/Walk Festival, proved that the town was aching for a good use of energy now that we’re officially into the summer season.

According to event co-ordinator Cori Boguski there were 164 people registered for the event and actual attendance only slipped six people to 158.

Participants had the choice of a five or 10 kilometre walk or a five, 10 or 21 kilometre run.

Corbin Miller was said to be the event’s youngest walker at four-years-old and Anne Berrisford was the most experienced at 70.

Kids and 10k walkers set out into the Kildala neighbourhood at 8 a.m. and all others left the Riverlodge at 9 a.m.

Results in the 2.5 kilometre mini categeory show Mackenzie Domreis in first place. She was followed by Ferron Ouewhand in second place.

Hannah Bilash strolled into first place in the five kilometre walk with a time of 47 minutes and 58 seconds.

A mere one second back on her tail was Georgia Newton and Marie Oates claimed third place another 12 seconds behind.

In the five kilometre run Ben Thorne sprinted into first place with a time of 18:20. Ryan Forbes passed the finish line minutes later with a time of 22:21. Aaron Cook earned third place with 25:10.

Karl-Heinz Luethje walked his 10 kilometres in one hour, 16 minutes and 13 seconds.

Six minutes later Rosemary Louttit made it to the finish and James Thorne placed third with 1:26:12.

For the 10 kilometre run, Candice Pilgrim topped the chart at 44:02, beating Michael Hamilton by three seconds. Bill Bovingdon kept up the pace and placed in third with a time of 45:48.

In the morning’s most gruelling event, the 21 kilometre run, Marc Hrehirchek, of Prince Rupert, claimed a 1:38:42 time for first. Patrice Bergeron landed on a time of 1:39:38 for second while another Patrice, Patrice Desrosiers, finished third with 1:41:17.

First female to cross the line in the category was Natalie Baldo at 1:49:29.

The majority of the participants in the event were from Kitimat.