The Greater Omaha Area Trail Runnerz (G.O.A.T.z) returned to Black Elk-Neihardt Park on Saturday for their annual Hilly Goat Half-Marathon, 10- and 5-kilometer foot races.
Official Ron Ruhs of Blair started festivities before 8 a.m. with a pep talk before later confirming 60 runners for the event. Of the entries, 32 signed up for the half-marathon, which took participants on three loops around the hilly terrain of the park.
Among those testing their endurance was Kelsea Wolfe.
“I'm hoping this is the first of many runs out here,” she said before the race.
The Arlington resident's Black Elk-Neihardt Park debut didn't happen on accident.
“I started doing some trail runs this year,” Wolfe said. “I have some friends that do them and my husband's done one with GOATz. So, I just started looking for races to do and this one was an easy, local one to hop in on.”
The runner had only one prior experience in the Blair park — a short hike with her young children.
“It was kind of unsuccessful,” she said, smiling. “They weren't really cooperating that day, so I got about a quarter-mile in and had to turn around.”
For that reason, Wolfe anticipated a good first experience on the hilly course.
“I'm excited to see what the topography of it is,” she said. “And I just like the early morning and being out in nature, so I'm excited that there's an actual trail this close to home.”
The half-marathon was the GOATz' third in Blair. In past years, the club has donated money back to the park and — in 2021 — to the Otte Blair Middle School running club, the school's cross-country team.
