Staff photos by Clay Schuldt Over 130 runners registered for the Citizen Bank 5K. It was the highest turnout out for the Citizen Bank 5K and one of the first 5K events held since the COVID pandemic.

NEW ULM — Five kilometers (5K) races are up and running again with Citizen’s Bank holding its annual Race to Raise 5K Saturday.

This is the first in-person 5K organized in the region since the COVID pandemic.

The 5K started at 7:45 a.m. in the Citizen Bank parking lot and sent runners down Minnesota Street. At 16th South Street, runners took a left turn and ran to the bike path. At the start of the bike path on S. 16th was the halfway point. Runners could refill on the water before following the bike path to the finish line at German Park.

Chris Gordon finished the 5K first with a time of 20 minutes 22 seconds. Gordon has run many 5Ks over the years and is often among the first to finish.

“It was good to be back in a real race,” Gordon said after crossing the line. “The weather was perfect the crowd was awesome.”

Gordon also praised the route as rewarding for veteran runners and newcomers. He said the long straight-aways help test a person’s abilities.

Runner Dan Schwartz finished second with a time of 21 minutes 16 seconds. He also agreed it was perfect weather for a run. The temperatures remained in the low 50s during the 5K.

Seventh-place finisher Kylie Rieke said it was beautiful weather and a runner could not ask for better conditions.

This was the 6th time Citizens Bank organizes organized a 5K. All proceeds from the event go to the American Cancer Society. Like other organizations, they were unable to hold the 5K last year because of the pandemic, but regulations have relaxed enough to start running again.

CItizen’s Bank staff were excited to have an in-person 5K again and based on turnout, the runners were excited too. Over 130 runners registered for this 5K. This was a record number of registrations for the Citizen Bank 5K.