From Washington to Oregon, people pounded the pavement to cross the Astoria bridge on Sunday
On a brisk Sunday morning, over 3,000 people ran, walked or rolled across the Astoria Bridge for the Great Columbia Crossing. Participants came from far and wide to experience the 10k race, a tradition that started in 1982.
According to race announcer William Wyckoff, who has announced the race for 15 years, lots of preparation goes into the event, including setting up the systems cataloging the participants and their times — all 3,004 of them.
“It’s all about celebrating people doing great things each day,” Wyckoff said. His favorite part? The smiles of the people as they cross the finishing line. He said it is an “empowering” feeling.
The day began under a clear blue — and sunny — sky. Starting before dawn, a fleet of school busses helped ferry race participants to their starting place at Dismal Nitch, over on the north side of the bridge in Washington.
One of the volunteer bus drivers, Jerry Herrington, said it’s a pleasure to drive such a joy-filled ride. “The first thing they say on my bus is ‘oh its nice and warm in here,’” said Herrington.
Some said the clear blue skies were welcome, and a drastic improvement over last year’s rain and fog. But rain or shine, the weather was a nonstarter. Race participants just had one thing in mind.
“It’s always fun, good weather or bad and we’re having a great day today,” said Susan Hays as she waited in line for the bus. She said she’s been participating since the ‘90s. “I used to run,” she said. “But I’m older now so I mostly walk — and it’s still fun.”
Alana Morosky said the fair weather was a definite plus. “I’m very excited. It was really wet and miserable (last year), but it was so fun my friends and I decided to come back.”
For Joe Davis the worst part was the waiting before the event began.
Just 30 minutes after the race started, Weston Livingston and Zander Moha thundered down the Riverwalk and across the finish line, only three seconds apart. Livingston came in first place with a 31:44 time and Moha right behind at 31:47. Shortly after, a steady stream of finishers made their way across the finish line beneath the bridge.
Erich Chranor came in with a time of 48:37, third in the Men’s 50-54 division. He said his Hood to Coast training paid off for the bridge run.
“It’s really fun,” Chranor said. “Besides just being a cool place to run it’s actually a really nice track because you get three miles of warmup, a big hill and an easy finish.”
After the hardcore runners and racers finished, a steady stream of participants crossed the finish line, each receiving a medal and snacks for their efforts.
As Tiffany Cobb was descending the bridge ramp, she said the main span of the bridge was the best part of the experience.
“Once you hit the plateau and you start to go down you know you’re really close to the end,” she said.
“It was great, beautiful weather, couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Kevin Traff, who had just finished his third crossing. He split his race into an even mix of running and walking. He said everybody should give it a try.
For two first timers, Anne Dunham and Sandy Montgomery, the experience was a resounding hit.
“Look at the sun — it was amazing,” said Dunham. “It was so cool coming across the water.” .
Montgomery agreed. “I’m coming back next year.”
It was also Tony and Donna Bartell’s first time in the Great Columbia Crossing. The couple, from Pahrump, Nevada said they spend their summers in Oregon to make sure they get their fill of the weather, which is cooler and clearer than their hometown.
“It was just a wonderful walk, said Tony Bartell. “It was wonderful … I just loved it.”