More than 300 participate in Polar Bear 5K

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Despite some very cold temperatures, an estimated 350 people participated in this year’s Polar Bear 5k early Saturday morning. 

Hundreds of participants completed three laps around Copperas Cove City Park to complete this year’s Polar Bear 5k, the first race in this year’s Cen-Tex Race Series.

Ashley Wilson, office manager for Copperas Cove Parks and Recreation, said that they had 400 people pre-register for the race and about 350 who attended the morning’s event. Historically the Polar Bear 5k began at 8 a.m. This year’s race had originally been bumped back to 9 a.m. The Polar Bear Plunge was rescheduled entirely to Saturday, Jan. 31..

“We really wanted to show our respect for Officer Garretson,” said Wilson. She said that the earlier start time would allow those who wanted to both attend the 5k and Officer Garretson’s funeral.

Wilson said that most of their participants were very supportive of the decision. She said that some promised her that they would run their fastest 5k ever so that they could make it to the funeral.

Wilson said that participation for this year’s event was the biggest turnout for the event so far.

“This shows that people are going to take their health seriously for 2026,” said Wilson. “Even if they’re just walking, it’s just good to get out there and start.”

Jeremiah Calderon, 18, was the first runner to cross the finish line Saturday morning with an impressive clock time of 16:33:54.

“I feel good,” said Calderon about his finishing time.

Calderon said that he’s participated in the Polar Bear 5k for at least three or four years

He said that he was a bit slower for Saturday’s race, but that he plans to keep training and doing more races for 2026. He said that the cold weather made the race a bit tougher, but he still enjoyed it.

“It keeps me healthy and it keeps me going,” said Calderon about running.

Danielle Toms, a member of the Lake Belton Running Club, participated in the Polar Bear 5k for the first time (normally she runs in races in the Waco area). 

“It felt good! I thought I was going to have a difficult time with the hills and the cold weather,” said Toms.

Toms was the fastest female finisher for Saturday’s race with an impressive time of 21:58:51. She said that the numbness of running in the colder weather actually helped her, and she felt like she “had a bit more in the tank” still after completing the race.

She said that running is a big stress reliever for her and encouraged others to run too saying, “Don’t run for time, run for your mind.”

15-year-old Anthony Carter, a Copperas Cove High School student finished the race in second place with a time of 18:27:97.

“I hate the cold,” said Carter who said that the cold definitely hindered his time, but that he still enjoyed Saturday’s run, especially running alongside Calderon who helps push him to run even faster each time.

Carter called the race’s completion a “rewarding finish” and added, “It was fun. More people should come out and run it.”