Fun in motion

Angie Ostberg smiled alongside her neighbor Elizabeth Smith as they ran in the 5K at the fourth annual Wellfest on Saturday.

Ostberg completed the race without stopping, she said. Smith said they beat their training time.

In mid April, Smith started training Ostberg for the 5K. Ostberg and Smith started getting up at 5:30 a.m. to run for about an hour, three days a week. The two live across the street from one another.

"It's a good time to encourage each other," Ostberg said.

Smith said she had been praying about who to train so she could "pay it forward" after she was trained for a half marathon. Smith, a brain tumor survivor, was featured in the Herald-Leader on May 14 after completing the Bentonville Half Marathon in April.

Smith said she and Ostberg took part in a program that starts from walking to running. They had been running almost three miles a day before the race Saturday. A 5k race covers 3.1 miles.

Ostberg said this wasn't her first 5K, but she needed some training to get ready. Children and life happened.

"I was unhappy with my lack of wellness," Ostberg said. "I wanted to get active again."

"Wellfest, A Day in Motion," included several events to keep people of all ages moving. The event is hosted by Bridges To Wellness.

Steve Stinnett of Siloam Springs rode in the 50-mile bicycle ride. It was his first time to participate in the ride at Wellfest.

Stinnett said he's been riding a recumbent bicycle for about a year. The bicycle is much easier on the hands and rear end compared to a regular bicycle, he said.

Seth Maher of Olustee, Okla., who was visiting friends in Gentry, attended Wellfest with his family and the Gentry friends.

"It's pretty cool," Maher said. "Lots of things going on."

His son, Loghan, who turned 10 on Monday, took part in the family fun challenge.

Wellfest volunteer Trey Coleman was managing the golfing section of the challenge.

This is Coleman's second or third year to volunteer. He explained that Wellfest was a good event for children.

"Nice to have a good excuse for them to get out," Coleman said.

This year was Jackie Gammill's first year to volunteer at Wellfest.

"I think it's great," Gammill said.

When asked why she chose to volunteer, she said why not?

"It's just fun," she said.

Wellfest included the 5K, a 1-mile fun run, 5-, 10- and 50-mile bicycle rides, a family fun challenge, CrossFit, Zumba, tae kwon do, pickle ball, flying disc, yoga and cooking demonstrations.