Pictured is retired U.S. Navy submariner Sid Busch with Hills and Hollows race organizer Marvin Fisher during Saturday’s event in Valmeyer. For more photos from the run, click here. (Alan Dooley photo)

A large cadre of runners and walkers competed in the 12th annual Hills and Hollows Half Marathon and 5K in Valmeyer on Saturday, with an enthusiastic crowd of onlookers cheering them on.

The annual event is held in memory of cancer victim Melvin Fisher, who was a Valmeyer fireman. His twin brother, Marvin, established the run and comes from Sherwood, Ark., every year to direct it.

The RRCA-certified half marathon covers a 13.1-mile single loop course that features a challenging uphill run to the finish line. The 5K run is on an out-and-back course. Both races are officially sanctioned events.

Sid Busch, a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief submariner from Charleston, S.C., ran in honor of the late John Peter Guttmann, who died in Vietnam at the age of 20. Busch, who carried an American flag the entire race, also carried a picture of Guttmann on his back. Members of Guttmann’s family were on hand for the event.

The husband-and-wife team of Mike and Kathy Murgas flew from Dallas, Texas, to run the half marathon. Kathy Murgas had “set the pace” for the couple by completing a half marathon in all 50 states, and her husband was running to catch up.

Kate Zucha of Waterloo placed first for women in Saturday’s half marathon. (Alan Dooley photo)

The 5K winner was area runner David Droege of Millstadt.  Droege, who has run both the half marathon and 5K previously, raced to victory in 17:56.9, more than three minutes faster than the runner-up.

Brad Meyer was the fastest local 5K runner, coming in fourth with a time of 24:03.9.

Darcy Vest of Valmeyer came in third overall to notch the fastest time for women with a time of 23:29.9. Bridget Collett of Valmeyer was the second woman to the finish line, placing 11th overall at 26:18.

First place overall for the half marathon was captured by Nicholas Heller of Urbana in 1:20:09.7.

Since the start and finish lines were adjusted for accuracy this year, Heller’s time is recorded as a new course record.

Jordan Pettet of Columbia came in fourth at 1:35:41.6, and Waterloo’s Jason Wagner was the next local finisher in eighth place at 1:41:29.4.

In the women’s category, first place went to Waterloo’s Kate Zucha, who raced home in 10th place overall at 1:44:10.5.  Red Bud’s Leslie Grohman captured second place for women with a 16th place overall finish at 1:49:29.3.

As the day wore on, people waited for Busch to complete his commitment to run in Guttmann’s honor. As Busch reached the 12-mile point, the heat and his age conspired to cause him to stop. Other runners, EMS personnel and the Valmeyer American Legion color guard journeyed down the hill to escort Busch to the finish line, and aided his recovery by cooling him with ice packs.

Busch recovered sufficiently to complete the grueling 13.1-mile course. He finished last.  But as he committed to do – he finished.

“I came in third in my age group, Jurassic, and will get a plaque.  I am outliving my competition,” Busch wrote on Facebook of his experience.

He also vows to return for next year’s Hills and Hollows run.