Hard cider motivates runners through 5K
Patty White is 43, and by her own admission, not in the best shape.
But don't tempt her with booze.
"It was a fun stroll through a pretty area," the Biglerville resident said. "There was that one hill at the end that was really uphill and tough that almost killed me, but getting my cider at the end was worth it."
White was one of around 500 who participated in Saturday's "Jack's Hard Cider 5K" at the Hauser Estate Winery just outside of Gettysburg. Runners - or walkers - of all ages trekked their way through the winery and were rewarded at the end with a medal, free t-shirt and cider of their choice. For those that wanted to surpass a water for an alcoholic cider, they had their pick from a dry, semi-sweet, sweet or a cherry cider, said Courtney Walker, the event director of the 5K.
"Hard cider is just such a booming industry right now, so we just kind of wanted to get on with that and let people experience new cider," she said. "There's probably a lot of people here who have never been here before, so it was even great to get that cider in their hands."
Walker co-founded the Hard Cider 5K last year and hosts the event around the country, she said. Walker took her passions of running and cider and combined them into an event to benefit a charity, she said. For this event, proceeds benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Association's Central Pennsylvania chapter.
Brian Polensky made the 40-minute trip from Mechanicsburg to run for his seven-year-old son who was diagnosed with type one diabetes in December, he said.
"It was a really nice race through the orchard," he said. "And I'm glad I was able to benefit my son."
After finishing the run, Polensky made sure to grab one of Jack's Hard Ciders.
"I'm more of a craft beer fan but the cider is really good. It was a nice way to relax after the race," he said.
This was the first time the event has come to Pennsylvania, Walker said.
"It's a beautiful venue," she said. "It's a tough course, there are a lot of hills but it's great views and the cider is amazing."