race

Runners start the Winterville Snowflake 10K in 2023. This year’s race is the first of six in the Firefly Trail Race Series, which includes two races in Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Olivia Shapiro)

Runners start the Winterville Snowflake 10K in 2023. This year’s race is the first of six in the Firefly Trail Race Series, which includes two races in Oglethorpe County. (Photo/Olivia Shapiro)

Winterville Snowflake 10K first in six-race Firefly series

Runners and walkers across Oglethorpe County will ring in the new year with the return of the seventh annual Firefly Trail Race Series, a six-race lineup designed to bring the community together and raise awareness of the Firefly Trail.
Anne Garner (from left), Carol Black and John Kissane worked together to create the Firefly Trail Race Series, a collection of four races in Oglethorpe County and nearby cities. The Maxeys Model Mile 5K is scheduled for Saturday, May 18.

Anne Garner (from left), Carol Black and John Kissane worked together to create the Firefly Trail Race Series, a collection of four races in Oglethorpe County and nearby cities. The Maxeys Model Mile 5K is scheduled for Saturday, May 18.

Maxeys 5K next race in Firefly Trail series

Anne Garner had an idea after moving from metro Atlanta to about 5 miles south of Maxeys about six years ago. She noticed few race opportunities in Oglethorpe County and wanted to start one.
Runners started the 10K near the Crawford Baptist Church. The race was part of the 18th annual Restoration Labor Day 5K/10K on Monday. (Photo/Nimra Ahmad)

Runners started the 10K near the Crawford Baptist Church. The race was part of the 18th annual Restoration Labor Day 5K/10K on Monday. (Photo/Nimra Ahmad)

More than 150 runners compete in annual Restoration 5K

Under an overcast sky and the occasional stray raindrop, Crawford hosted the 18th Annual Restoration Labor Day 5K/10K on Sept. 5.    Hosted by the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce, the annual race is part of an ongoing effort to fund the city’s depot.
Runners line up at the start line at the Winterville Civitan Snowflake 10k on Jan. 29. There were 185 in-person participants in the race, which is the first race in the Firefly Trail Race Series. The other races are the Maxeys Model Mile 5k, Crawford Restoration Labor Day Run 5k and Union Point J3 5k, scheduled for later this year. (Mackenzie Tanner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Runners line up at the start line at the Winterville Civitan Snowflake 10k on Jan. 29. There were 185 in-person participants in the race, which is the first race in the Firefly Trail Race Series. The other races are the Maxeys Model Mile 5k, Crawford Restoration Labor Day Run 5k and Union Point J3 5k, scheduled for later this year. (Mackenzie Tanner/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Organizers hope race series will boost running in Oglethorpe

WATCH: See the top finishers and video of the Firefly Trail Race Series' first event.   The first race of Firefly Trail Race Series — the Winterville Civitan Snowflake 10K on Jan. 29 — had 185 in-person participants, but only two of them were from Oglethorpe County.