<p>John Livran and his dog Diesel, partially seen, power toward the finish line of the Second Annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink run and walk on Saturday, July 30. Livran was the fastest man in the age 40 and up category.</p>

CANYON CITY – Casey Gatz of John Day showed he was tough enough to wear pink.

Gatz sped through the hills and streets surrounding Canyon City last Saturday, July 30, capturing first place in the second annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink 5K walk/run. He completed the course with a time of 20:39.

Sarah Bush, the fastest woman, finished the run in 23:30.

Gatz and Bush were the fastest runners under 40 for their genders.

The age 40 and over category was led by a married couple, John and Elaine Livran, who finished as the top man and woman.

John Livran took on the course with another partner as well – his dog, Diesel, ran alongside.

In all, 29 runners and walkers participated in the event, which raised $310 to be donated to the Blue Mountain Hospital mammography department.

The run, which followed the same route as the Gold Rush Run and Walk, was started in 2010 by Charlene Morris and her sister, Wanda Winegar.

Morris, a running enthusiast, has been aided by Winegar, who foots many of the technical details of the event.

Tammy Bremner, Eva Harris and Doug Smith also assisted.

Morris said she got the idea to start the event when various Tough Enough to Wear Pink activities were started last year, centered on rodeo. Last year, in addition to kicking off the walk/run, they invited rodeo royalty to participate in a special barrel race event that kicked off the Grant County Fair Rodeo.

The same barrel race will kick off this year’s NPRA rodeo on Friday evening, Aug. 26.

“We’ll have some highfalutin royalty this year,” said Morris. Expected to participate are Grant County Rodeo Queen Sierra Burton, who will be joined by Mackenzie Carr, Miss Rodeo Oregon; Hailey Jones, Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon; Kiernan Hull, Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon; and Shalaina Joiner, the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association Queen.

Results from last weekend are:

Tough Enough to Wear Pink 5K walk/run

July 30, 2011

Casey Gatz, 20:39; Sarah Bush, 23:30; Jenny Jacobs, 25:04; Chanelle Kay, 26:18; Zac Bailey, 28:06; Peyton Neault, 29:09; Elaine Livran, 29:35; Kristen Long, 30:00; Janety Plocharski, 33:13; Julie Humbird, 33:26; John Livran, 33.49; Kimberly Neault, 33:54; Trace Andrew, 33:57; Heather Bailey, 34:34; Duane Andrew, 34:53; Kelsey Long, 35:20; Charlene Morris, 35:24; Lisa Jensen, 36:04; Kathryn Manitsas, 36:04; Anna Marie Kuhn, 39:15; Doug Story, 39:19; Sherri Dowdy, 47:03; Sylvia Dowdy, 47:03; Christy Crutchfield, 52:55; Rachel Carpenter, 52:55; Jim Spell, 56:01; Kris Beal, 1:02.22;Ineta Carpenter, 1:02.27; Beth Spell, 1:02:27.