From left to right: Robin Hardesty, Roberta Johnson, and Jane Gonzales, all from Laramie, WY.

     It was a beautiful late summer day over in Curt Gowdy State Park on Saturday, August 28; a perfect day for a run down the trails. It’s no surprise, then, that over 150 people turned out for the first annual Antelope Dash, an 8 mile foot race to benefit the Nature Conservancy.

    The race started at 8 in the morning at Granite Reservoir and wound its way through the Stone Temple trail system in Curt Gowdy State Park. Participants had the option of walking or running either an 8 mile course or an easier 4 mile course. The participants were all different ages and from different places, from Laramie and Cheyenne to as far as Ft. Collins. Some were even UW students, such as Jane Gonzales, who is pursuing her Masters in Accounting at the College of Business.

    The race was hosted by the Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of America’s state and national parks, and other natural resources. It served a double purpose; to raise money for the Nature Conservancy and expose participants to the beautiful natural setting that can be found in Curt Gowdy and the Vedawoo area. Race organizers were impressed with the turnout, and are planning on holding the race again a year from now, where they hope they can attract more participants from UW and the Laramie and Cheyenne areas.