(Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Three years ago, Chris Hoefer, of Gladewater, found himself sitting on the couch a lot more than he should have been. He was adding on the pounds and was not exercising like he should have been. That’s when the Hoefer family decided to start running.

Chris and Cari Hoefer needed some special equipment for their running adventures – a jogger chair, a specially designed chair to push Christina, their 26-year-old daughter. Because of her disabilities, she needs a wheelchair. The Hoefers got a purple jogger chair and began running. Chris lost over 30 pounds and the Hoefers started running in Ainsley’s Angels events – a road race event series specifically for runners with jogger chairs. Today, they made the drive to Tyler for the Fresh 15.

“We were couch potatoes,” Hoefer said. “We both started running and then we got the jogger chair and now, we travel to races in Texas and Louisiana. The Fresh 15 is a great race. This is the second time we ran it.”

For the Hoefers it was a family day. For others, like Reginald Tilly, of Houston, it was a chance to come back to his hometown, see his family and run the Fresh 15 for the third time.

Over 4,600 people laced up their running shoes to participate in the 4th annual Fresh 15 road race on Saturday morning.

The race featured a 15 K course, a 5K and a 1K kids race. Awards were given to male and female athletes in 15 age group divisions, masters division and overall top male and female finishers.

“This is my fourth year directing the event,” Megan Riaz, health and wellness coordinator for Brookshire’s Grocery Co. said. “This is the most runners we’ve ever had.”

Elite runners from Ethiopia, Kenya, California and Dallas ran the race, even setting new course records in the male and female divisions.

“I work with different agents for elite runners,” Ms. Riaz said. “We try to get them here to Tyler. It’s great to see that kind of talent race here with us. These guys and girls are fast. They run sub 5-minute miles.”

Ms. Riaz predicted that there would be a course record. She was right.

Julius Kogo, of Kenya, came in at 43:55 beating his 2016 time of 44:13 and earning $3,000 in prize money. Kimutai Cheruiyot, of Kenya came in second with a time of 44:26 and $2,000 in prize money. and Julius Koskei, of Kenya was third with a time of 45:34 and $1,500 in prize money. 

Susan Jerotich, of Kenya was the top female runner. Her time of 50:50 set new course record for the female division beating the 2016 first place time of 50:58. She also received $3,000 in prize money.

Joan Aiyabei, of Kenya, came in second with a time of 51:51 and $2,000 in prize money.

Sophy Jepchirchir, of Kenya, was the third place female finisher with a time 51:53. She earned $1,500 in prize money. 

Several East Texas women were among the top ten finishers in the women’s division. Shandra Moore, of Lindale, was 6th, Abby Rodseth, of Tyler, 7th, Taylor Slack, of Lindale, 8th and Carly Wilson, of Big Sandy, in 9th place.

“We were so thankful for the great weather today,” Ms. Riaz said. “Four years ago when we started this, we didn’t know where it would go after that, but it’s gotten better each year.”

All proceeds from the Fresh 15 will benefit 10 local charities in four categories.

Twitter: @LouAnnCampbell