After a continuous downpour all morning, the rain stopped just in time for a wild bunch of clean water, healthy salmon loving people to participate in one of the summer’s most cheekily named outdoor events. Over 60 runner, fat bikers, and their canine friends raced 10 miles down the beach from the mouth of the Kasilof to the mouth of the Kenai Sunday, June 19th taking part in the third annual Mouth to Mouth Wild Run & Ride. Cook Inletkeeper coordinates the event in conjunction with Tsalteshi Trails Association, the Kenai Watershed Forum, Kenai Peninsula Chapter Trout Unlimited, and Kenaitze Indian Tribe, according to Kaitlin Vadla one of the race founders. Doug Hogue of Kenai River Brewery and his son Dylan made the run for the third time and even though it was Father’s Day Dylan gave his dad no slack, “I left him he couldn’t stay up with me,” said Dylan. “I told him he needed to let me stay up with him so I could look good and win, but Oh No!” commented Doug. Lots of fathers and families came out together to enjoy the day. Race coordinator Kaitlin Vadla said she couldn’t believe the rain stopped just in time for the race to start!
The Mouth to Mouth run included a women’s fat bike class, men’s fat bike and a men’s and women’s run category and of course a youth division with prizes for each. “Generous gifts of time and prizes from volunteers and local businesses made the event fun for participants and spectators. Odie’s Cafe, Kenai River Brewing, Ole John’s Southern BBQ, Mountain Mama Designs, Where It’s At Mindful Food & Drink, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Beemun’s, Wilderness Way, and River City Wellness all donated food or prizes for the event. Odie’s Cafe, Kenai River Brewing, Ole John’s Southern BBQ, Mountain Mama Designs, Where It’s At Mindful Food & Drink, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Beemun’s, Wilderness Way, and River City Wellness all donated snacks or prizes for the event. Proceeds from the race support Inletkeeper’s work ensuring clean water and healthy salmon in the Cook Inlet Watershed. The top three finishers of this year’s Mouth to Mouth were, Nathan Kincaid 43:52 1st place Men’s Bike, Matthew Neisinger 44:58 in 2nd place for Men’s Bike and Mike Crawford in at 45:10 took 3rd place in Men’s Bike.
4 Martin Renner 50:18 Men’s Bike. Taking 1st in the Women’s Bike was Laura Hufford 1:18:10.
In the Men’s Mouth to Mouth run Nick Bicandi coming in at 1:09:59 took 1st place and for the ladies Brianna Steed at 1:24:09 was 1st for the Women’s Run. Vadla promises another Mouth to Mouth next year.
