"It's so pretty here and the mountains are just gorgeous," said Molly Watkins, 18, who won the women's division with a time of 42:23.

Watkins, a Kenai runner who came in third at last year's Spit Run and recently took her second consecutive title at the 5-kilometer Run For the River in her hometown, said she didn't do any special training for the event but maintains a summer athletic regimen that includes running, bicycling and roller skiing.

"I didn't think I'd win. The whole time I was peeking over my shoulder thinking there had to be some other girls there somewhere. I ran with a pack of men and boys for a long way and that worked pretty good," she said.

Men's division winner Lars Arneson, 19, who finished in 37:11, agreed that the Spit Run course is a special one.

"This is perfect. The route is nice and flat and mostly downhill," he said.

Arneson grew up in Soldotna, where he ran cross-country for Cook Inlet Academy. In the fall, he will take his talents to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, where he plans to study mechanical engineering.

Right on Arneson's heels, finishing with a time of 38:25, was 33-year-old Keith MacPhail, another Kenai runner who runs 10 miles a week to stay in shape. Participating in his first Spit Run, MacPhail was pleased with his second-place finish.

"I'm really happy. It's the first time I've been below 40 (minutes) since I was about 22. I just love these community runs," said MacPhail.

All types of runners tested their mettle on the Spit Run, from young kids to seniors to folks who brought their dogs along.

If the race had a special category for people pushing their children along in strollers, Bob Bell, who finished with a time of 46:29 while giving his son, Jacob, a ride, would have won easily.

Bell, an avid runner from Anchorage, brought his family down to Homer for the weekend - his wife, Kristen, ran the race, too, finishing in 51:03 - just for the Spit Run. Pushing the stroller with two-year-old Jacob in it is a bit of a challenge, he said.

"It's not too bad but you've got to train for it a little. He actually fell asleep about halfway through it," said Bell.

Volunteers from the USCG cutter Hickory, South Peninsula Hospital and the Homer Senior Center helped to make the race a success, registering runners at the start and manning water stations along the course.

"It was really well run. There were people and cones at all the stops which was really great because then you're not wondering if you're going the right way," said Watkins.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig@homernews.com.