Running for Fun on the Fourth

Runners of all ages stretched their legs next to Calabasas Lake by as they warmed up for the 33rd annual Lakeside Fun Run.

Barry Hammond, president of the Calabasas Park Homeowner's Association, had his starter pistol cocked and ready to signal the start of the four-mile race.

"It's our big Fourth of July event," Hammond said.

There were more runners this year than usual.

"It has increased to about 100 people and could be more," said Deborah Heuman, an event organizer.

Other races included a half-mile run and a two-mile walk.

Resident Eva Vertelney was there to cheer members of her family who were participating in the races.

Vertelney said her husband is a cross-country champ and that everyone in her family is into running. Her son Ben, number 240, would be participating in the first race of the day, which was the four-mile-run.

"Ben eats whatever is recommended in Runner's World Magazine," Vertelney said. "For a while he was eating nothing but steak."

The sharp bang of the pistol sounded and the runners were off. Family and friends cheered and yelled as their loved ones ran passed stars and stripes banners ruffled by the morning wind.

"The event is a good activity for the kids," Vertelney said. "They get to meet other kids and have fun." 

Gary Saxer demonstrated his patriotic spirit by running in an Uncle Sam hat. 

"I have been doing the race for 10 years now ," Saxer said.  "I always were the hat." 

As the runners came around the first lap the crowd hooted and cheered. Friends and family offered cups of water to quench the competitor's thirst.

The runners grabbed what they could, splashed their faces and kept going. Some runners clocked impressive times.

"Four or five minute miles; that's impressive," said Steve Brooskin, a Calabasas resident who was there to support his wife.

Twenty-year-old Camron Shahmirzadi came in first in the four-mile race with a time of 19 minutes and 38 seconds.

"The competition was a lot better than I expected," said Shahmirzadi.

Clayton Grahm, who came in second place in the four-mile and first place in the two-mile run, said that the event is good for the running community in Calabasas.

"I think it is awesome because you realize that there is a running community here," he said.