- December 23, 2014
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Alecia Spence and Rachael Cravens checked runners in.
Gretchen Hahn and Paige Wester were pumped up and ready to run.
Wendy and Scott Ramey dressed in bright colors.
Debbie Wennerstrom donned a neon-colored outfit.
Vern Wennerstrom was the designated race photographer for his wife, Debbie.
Runners took off across the starting line, braving the early-morning humidity.
Joe Laughlin, owner of race-management company J7 Sports, tied ribbons to poles to create a finish-line runway.
The medals awarded to runners were made of wood.
Jayne Mancia posed for a post-race photo with Scar the turtle and handler Emily Haft.
Rachael Cravens and Jennifer Hunt handed out medals to runners.
Jennifer Middlebrook and Wendy and Scott Ramey struck a pose.
Runners gathered as ONP Director Jennifer Hunt explained the protocol.
Rachael Cravens, Alecia Spence, Jim Peterson and Jennifer Hunt manned the race.
Jennifer Middlebrook threw up a peace sign as she crossed the finish line.
Jessica Cross and Marlee Altizer showed off their medals.
Samuel Green was all smiles as he crossed the finish line.
Debbie Wennerstrom high-fived Joe Laughlin as she finished the race.
Scar, a Florida box turtle, came out to say hello.
Although it was named for a tortoise, the Oakland Nature Preserve’s three-mile race for conservation was anything but slow-placed. More than 60 runners gathered at the preserve early Saturday, June 9, to take on the course in an effort to support the preserve’s mission to promote an understanding of the balance between mankind and the environment. Winter Garden resident Ron Mueller finished first overall, and Clermont resident Liza Farzati was the first female finisher and sixth overall.