BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
In most cases it would be safe to assume that if you are organizing a 5K run/walk as a special “nun ya bzzzness” birthday to yourself, you must put a lot of miles on your shoes.
In the case of Ruth Van Pelt, that is not the case. She is organizing a 5K — the 2025 Nun Ya Bzzzness Fundraising 5K and Fun Run/Walk — but not because she loves to run.
“I am not an avid runner,” Van Pelt said. “That’s the fun part about it. I just decided it’s a special birthday, and I wanted to do something unique. I didn’t want to have a big old party, I have grandchildren that are very athletic, and they run cross country and swim. So I thought, I can’t let their grandma get old.”
But why a 5K if you aren’t an avid runner?
“I did one in 2012 and I did one during COVID on my treadmill, which was unique,” she said. “I had told my doctor — Dr. Jonathan Pike of University Kansas Health Systems — back in January that I wanted to do a 5K for this birthday, and he told me, when I found one, he and his dad both would run with me. He gave me a website to look at all the runs in Kansas. I thought, well, there’s one that runs through a sunflower field in Buhler and I thought that’d be neat.
“The next day, the Great Bend Tribune ran a story on Heartland Farm about all their trails. And I thought, well, could we possibly do it out there.
“So I went out and talked to Sr. Jane and Katie (Goerl), and they were excited. They always wanted to do one, but never really had the gumption to get it done. I guess I’m the gumption. I decided then and there that that’s what we were going to do. So this is my birthday present to me.”
Although her birthday is Aug. 1, Van Pelt, who moved to Great Bend from Scott City in 1973, chose Aug. 9 as the race date so her family could come participate. She has two daughters, one from Silverthorne, Colo., and one from Wamego, and twin granddaughters. Ruth’s sister, who is 80, will also be participating.
There will be two start times. The avid runners will start at 7:30 a.m. with the casual runners following at 8.
“You don’t have to run the whole distance,” she said. “You can go out and just enjoy the trails if you want to. I’m not going to run the whole way. I will walk some of it for sure.
“I just want people to do what makes them happy. Get out there and enjoy life. Mother Nature is awesome, I like the feeling out there, It’s just a very peaceful place, even if we are running. I would like to see as many people as possible come out there and just experience Heartland Farm. It’s an awesome place that nobody knows about. If more people found out about Heartland Farm, that would make the best birthday presents.”
Van Pelt says the scenic course will be shaded approximately 50% of the race. The runners will cross the creek in two spots, enter and exit through the Labyrinth and finish beside the Alpacas. The race will begin with the ringing of the bell and as you finish you will ring the bell yourself.
Event information
The 2025 Nun Ya Bzzzness Fundraising 5K and Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Aug. 9 at Heartland Farm, 13 miles west of Great Bend. The 5K Race will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the Fun Run/Walk following at 8 a.m. There is a $40 entry fee with all proceeds going to benefit Heartland Farm.
To keep everyone hydrated, water, Gatorade, watermelon and oranges will be available after the race.
The deadline to register and get a T-shirt is July 25. Registrations completed after July 25 through the morning of the event will not receive a T-shirt. You can register at https://heartlandfarm-ks.org/nun-ya-bzzzness-5k-registration-2025/.
Heartland Farm is an easy 13 miles west of Great Bend. From the four-way stop at 10th and Patton (where U.S. 56 turns south), drive west for 13 miles on W Barton County Road. When the pavement ends, continue west for another mile. Turn left at CR 390 (look for the sign) and continue for 1/2 mile. Heartland Farm will be the first driveway on the right side.
