Photos: Full speed ahead, fast as the sap runs

On Saturday March 18, The official kick off to the Maple Festival weekends started with a 5K at the Knox Town Hall in Knox.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

And they’re off! All 90 runners who participated in the Sap Run 5K bolt from the starting line on Saturday in Knox.The overall winner, at far left next to Sappy, Mark Stephenson, number 585, 53, from Esperance led the pack into the first turn and finished with a time of 19:22.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Not feeling the cold as Susy Garcia, 34, of Rensselaer wears a winning smile as the first female to cross the finish line, with a time of 23:07.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Sappy, the mascot of the Maple Festival greets runners to kick off the two-weekend festivities. Free tours of local sugar bushes show visitors how maple syrup is made. Next weekend, the Kiwanis host a pancake breakfast at the Knox firehouse. Here, Brian Kearns of Fultonville stands near Sappy before the start of the race; Kearns finished in 10th place with a time of 23:13.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Running partners: Vasiliki Lefkaditis, right, runs with her friend at the start of the Sap Run 5K on Saturday. Lefkaditis finished in 39th with a time of 28:38.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Thank you, Stella: Snowmobiles cross Route 156 from the softball field to the Knox town park on Saturday morning, taking advantage of the March 14 snowfall that dumped over two feet of snow in the Helderberg Hilltowns.