CCEDC hosts fifth annual Adventure 5K Race
Twelve teams of two competed against each other Saturday morning in a combination of unique physical and mental activities designed to challenge each participant.
This year marked the fifth annual Carbon County Adventure 5K Race hosted by the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation’s Future Leaders Council and was held at Foothill Farms in Lehighton from 9 a.m. to noon. The 108-acre farm, known for its Christmas trees, fresh produce and livestock products made for a one-of-a-kind venue.
Fortunately, the rain decided to take the weekend off, because participants must be able to compete no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
“It’s so much fun every year,” said Alice Wanamaker, CCEDC’s assistant vice president for the northern region.
Wanamaker said each year’s new location brings along a variety of new activities for attendees to take part in.
To keep teams on their toes, the adventure race’s events were kept a secret until all of the teams had arrived. Contestants had to choose between a variety of activities.
Physical challenges included human foosball, removing nails from a frozen cup of water, three-legged race, barefoot sprints, push a cup up the slip and slide, coal race, field day, rat race, eating challenge and sliding down the slip and slide.
Mental challenges included a sorting challenge, finding the Carbon County Adventure Race’s logo hidden in a random car, trivia, minute to win it challenges, singing, word jumble, blindfold taste test, $2 test and an eating challenge.
However, each team only had to complete a total of 10 events to place.
This year’s third-place winners were Bridget Johnston and Donna Getz of the Jim Thorpe area.
“Once we found our rhythm, we rocked it,” Johnston said.
Jay and Tia Llewellyn of Jim Thorpe, representing Mauch Chunk Trust, took home second place, and first place went to Mollie and Brad Impink of Lancaster.
“The most challenging activities were the most fun,” Mollie Impink said.
For local community members, the 5K was an ideal way to start the weekend.
First place was awarded $50, second place won $25 plus phone chargers and third place was given $10 and Archery Addictions tickets.