The Watershed Institute’s 5th Annual 10K/5K Solstice Run on Sunday, June 20, was a success and more than 200 in-person racers completed the course on the Watershed Reserve, while another 99 virtual racers did a course of their own choosing. The runners ranged in age from 4 to 89-years-old.
The Solstice Run helps support the Watershed’s efforts to keep water clean, safe and healthy in central New Jersey. Founded in 1949, the Watershed works to protect water and the environment through conservation, advocacy, science and education.
The virtual and in-person events raised about $25,000 for the Watershed in entry fees, donations, and sponsorships.
“Our Solstice Run advances the Watershed’s vital work of protecting and restoring our waterways,” said the Watershed’s Executive Director Jim Waltman. “We’re grateful for all of our participants, volunteers, and sponsors.”
The in-person race included trails and views of portions of the 950-acre Watershed Reserve, including meadows, forests, farmlands, and Wargo Pond. The race attracted runners of all ages, including runner Lennie Libes, 89, of Princeton, NJ, and Lorelei Marin, 4, from High Bridge, NJ.
The fastest female and male runners in the 10K race were Brian Wiest, 34, of Wallingford, PA, and Kristen Heinzel, 21, 
of Pennington, NJ. Winners of the 5K race were Brandon Carreno, 26, of Cranbury, NJ, and Meghan Bruce, 30, of Princeton, NJ.
Winners for various age categories for the men’s and women’s divisions also were given awards.
For more information, please visit https://thewatershed.org/solstice-run/
This is the first year the Watershed has done a hybrid race, offering runners socially distanced starting times for the in-person race after the starting gun went off at 9 a.m. Virtual runners selected a course and distance of their own choosing and ran on a day between June 18 – 20.
