Ziesemer Wins Fall 50

A runner strides past the Ephraim Firehouse Museum near the 15-mile mark of the Fall 50 on Saturday, Oct. 22. Photo by Myles Dannhausen Jr.

There are faster ways to see the fall colors in Door County, but perhaps no better way. Zach Ziesemer, 32, took in 50 miles of splendor on foot Saturday, Oct. 22, to win the 16th Fall 50 race from Gills Rock to Sturgeon Bay, finishing in 6:11:38. That was 3:16 faster than 19-year-old Cody Arendt, and 4:08 faster than third-place finisher David Luy.

On the women’s side, Carolyn Smith paced all runners, finishing in 7:12:05. Smith, 57, outpaced Nicole Strutz, 28, who finished in 7:19:07, and Katie Leon Ortega, 38, who finished in 7:59:09. 

More than 2,000 runners participated in the event as part of 400 teams and 133 solo runners.