LANGLEY — Some folks took it seriously, others just wanted to have fun.

This year’s Chum Run was for both the swift and the silly. But for the second time in a row, local long-distance runner Frank Jacques finished first in the 14th annual 5K Chum Run on Sunday at South Whidbey Community Park with a time of 19 minutes, 1 second.

For the women, Freeland’s Dana Hezel was first in 22 minutes flat.

One would think that running a 5-kilomter race — a bit over 3.1 miles — would be a piece of cake for someone like Jacques.

Think again.

“This is an awesome race,” Jacques said. “In a marathon, I start at a much slower pace and the real stress on my body begins at about mile 20. Here, the heart races faster from the start and stays that way.

“Of course, it wouldn’t be a Chum Run without the rain. Fraser [Mann] does a killer job organizing this event, making it better every year.”

This was Hezel’s sixth time at the Chum Run; her close friend, Falcon golf coach Steve Jones, was on hand to capture the moment with his camera.

“This is a real community race, the trails were well-marked and everyone shows up and has a good time,” she said. “There’s a lot more kids coming every year, and that’s the kind of thing we all like to see.”

Mann, the race director, was happy with the turnout of 113 loyal runners, despite a cold drizzle.

“Well, we didn’t get as big a crowd as past years because of the weather, but those that came are having a good time,” he said.

Indeed, just as the final runners crossed the line, the rain ended, just in time for the Fry Run.

“I’m really pleased so many kids showed up, either for the Fry Run or in the main race,” Mann noted.

Longtime event supporter Curt Gordon has run every race since the late Carl Westling invented the first “fun run” back in the 1980s.

“The course is in gorgeous shape, folks are having fun and I made it across the line,” Gordon said. “Doesn’t get much better.”

Gordon said the Chum Run is a perfect example of a healthy event for a fitness-oriented community like South Whidbey.

The Chum Run had a classy new look this year with a new finish-line structure designed and built by Kurt Johnson of Freeland, featuring the Chum Run logo designed by local graphic artist Pam Jacques of Langley.

This year, proceeds were divided between the high school cross country team and the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District scholarship fund.

As racers gathered at the start, members of the school’s girls team got the crowd in the mood with a little line dancing, accompanied by Jim Freeman, who used a pair of pom-poms to inspire the runners.

“The Falcon cross country team will be a permanent recipient,” Mann said. “This is the perfect fit because one of our goals has been to encourage endurance running in young people. Now we can also provide financial assistance.”

Falcon cross country coach Doug Fulton noted that cross country parents and students have been volunteering at the Chum Run for years. The money will be used for the annual team practice at Camp Casey and travel to invitationals.

“One of our goals is to get more young people involved in running and it’s working,” Fulton said. “The proceeds go in our budget and help to pay for uniforms and entry fees at events away from the island. Last year, the team ran in the Seaside Invite in Oregon and it was a great chance to run against top-flight athletes.”

Evidence of greater participation from the younger generation came from Langley Middle School seventh-grader Cole Zink, who placed fifth overall. He said his only strategy involved walking the 3.1-mile course the day before.

“I like running in the rain, especially when there isn’t much wind,” he said. “I just took off and ran.”

Mann and the other volunteers want to continue the long-standing tradition of excellence in distance running on the island. He added that organizers hope to expand the scope of the race with top-flight younger racers from around Whidbey and the mainland.

“We believe that endurance running develops character in young people.

“We’ll be back next year; same time, same place. Rain or shine, as always.”