The sun was out but not yet blistering hot, as runners in both the 10k and the two-mile fun walk/run towed the line in separate races on Saturday morning, July 15 in Escalon.

With a start and finish at El Portal Middle School, runners were greeted by bright blue skies and a familiar course.

“I like the nice paved roads,” said Sarita Pal of Modesto, running the two-mile. “It’s kind of shady, less congested, there’s a lot of elbow room.”

A member of the ShadowChase Running Club, Pal said she opted for the shorter run as she is dealing with a hip injury. She has also often done the Riverbank Run for the Cheese in October.

Mom Marissa Byrum ran with her family, pushing 4-year-old Ashley in a stroller while running with husband Richard and younger children Emily, 7, and Heidi, 8.

“We liked what it was for,” Marissa said of the money benefiting the Escalon Lions Club, which is involved in a number of sponsorship programs for the community. “The length was perfect for us too.”

Race results were not available at press time but coordinator Michael Bower, a cross country coach at Escalon High School, said he was pleased to see the number of participants trending upward. He also thanked the Lions Club for their support, nothing that they helped send some EHS students to cross country camp this past year.