HEIDELBERG - Skeletons, princesses and monsters raced through Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg during the U.S. Army Garrison Baden-Wuerttemberg Halloween Run and Walk.
Nearly 275 costumed entrants of every age gathered in the commissary parking lot to complete the 5-kilometer loop.
Several participants were costumed from head to toe despite the physical demand of the event.
Suzanne Kusick from the U.S. Army Europe band ran with a tutu and full face makeup as Natalie Portman's character from the movie Black Swan.
Michael Kordonowry was the devil himself in a red, horned and hooded bodysuit.
Others chose simpler outfits for the spooky holiday.
Deanna Rund put a small jack-o-lantern sticker on her cheek to acknowledge the occasion. When asked about her costume choice, she said with a laugh, "I would not finish with a wig on."
Child and Youth and School Services set up a harvest themed games area after the race, complete with hay bales and pumpkins.
Staff members from the Army Substance Abuse Program, there to promote Red Ribbon Week, provided medals for all children at the finish line. Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation volunteers also gave out candy to start filling the soon to be trick-or-treater's goody bags.
There were some who ran the race for the challenge, like James Arnett who came in first place with a time of 19 minutes, 7 seconds.
However, many ran or walked for family bonding, fun or to get more use out of their Hallo- ween costumes. Mindy Tillet put it in best.
"You have goals," she said in response to her husband's ambitious final time estimate. "I'm here for the experience."
Social Sharing