Cook Wins Division in City Point 5K
By STAFF REPORTS
Nov 1, 2012, 12:25
Pat Cook won the 65 and over women's division of the City Point 5K River Run and Walk on Saturday in Hopewell (staff photo).
HOPEWELL – An avid walker, Pat Cook signed up for the 16th annual City Point 5K River Run and Walk with hopes of making strides towards a healthier lifestyle.
She did that, and won a medal in the process.
Cook, who works as the pre-press supervisor at The Hopewell News and News-Patriot, topped the women’s 65 and over division by completing the scenic 3.1-mile loop in a time of 45:38 on Saturday in Hopewell.
Cook, 66, finished second in her division in 2010. She said keeping a consistent pace proved to be her winning strategy this time around.
“This time, I just strictly walked,” Cook said. “Except when I rounded the corner and saw the finish line, then I sprinted.”
Cook said the victory was unexpected, but she attributed the success to her preparation as a member of the City Point 5K training team. That squad consisted of roughly 15 members and incrementally prepared participants for the trek in the weeks leading up to race day.
“It just motivated me,” Cook said of the experience. “I already walked approximately four miles on weekends.”
An Enon resident since 1969, Cook hailed the race as an opportunity to promote healthy living at the community level.
“You have camaraderie,” Cook said. “Everybody has the same goal, and that’s better health.”
