With unseasonably warm temperatures for this time of year, 160 runners were undaunted and competed in the seventh annual running of the Vashon Island Ultramarathon and Trail Run last Saturday.

The Vashon Ultra consists of two different races — a 10-mile run that is made up of one full loop on the trails of Island Center Forest and Fisher Pond and a 50K (or 31 mile) run that does the same loop three times. Both races begin and end on the lawn in front of the Open Space for the Arts & Community. The finish area is a vibrant and festive party all day as runners successfully return to celebrate with friends and family and volunteers.

This year Rob Bien of Bend, Oregon, placed first over all in the 50K with a finishing time of 3 hours 55 minutes and 46 seconds. The first female in the 50K was Kathryn Farrell of Seattle, who finished in 5 hours 8 minutes and 35 seconds. Eight Vashon Islanders completed the 50K, led by Rusty Knowler, who took sixth place overall with a finish time of 4:56:54, and Tara Vanselow the second female finisher and in 12th place overall with a finish time of 5:19:20.

Ninety-five runners completed the 10 mile run — with over half of those being islanders. Aidan Cyra of Vashon led all runners with a strong finish in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 28 seconds. Becky Morgan of Boise, Idaho, took fifth overall and was the first female to cross the line in 1 hour 25 minutes and 27 seconds.

As it is every year, the Vashon Island Ultramarathon and Trail Run is an entirely volunteer run event. Without the support of volunteers from the island community, the runners would not have such a lovely day challenging themselves on Vashon’s trail system. For more information about the event, see vashonultra.com.

— Kevin Kim-Murphy is one of the event’s organizers.