A perfect 10th: Glass returns to win third Reagan Run title

DIXON – Add 10 years and several hundred more people and what do you get?

Apparently, the same result as the original when it comes to the Reagan Run 5K.

Geneseo native and former Dixon teacher Bryan Glass, who now resides in Monee, reclaimed the Reagan Run crown on Saturday, which he first hoisted at the event’s first running 10 years ago.

Glass finished in 16 minutes, 20 seconds ahead of defending champion Anthony Welty of Sterling at 16:37.

“I set some goals for myself coming back here,” Glass said. “I really was just trying to fight through it and get back into the swing of running competitively again. I did that, so I am satisfied with that.”

Glass, 35,  had been sidelined for a while with a nagging quad injury and a recent trip to the hospital where it was found that he didn’t have enough oxygen in his blood.

“It’s been a rough few months so it was nice to get back out there,” said Glass, who teaches physical education at special education school near Chicago.

This is only the second time Glass has run Reagan run since winning in 2000 and 2001. For the last few years, he has run for the 180 Energy Drink team. Being on the team has allowed him to compete in races across the country. Last June, he won a marathon in Montana.

“Being a part of that team has let me run at a national level instead of only getting to run in Illinois,” Glass said. “It’s been a great experience.”

Glass and Welty were part of the lead group from the start. That group encountered some trouble from the get-go.

“I went the wrong way right away in the first mile,” Glass said. “I just feel bad when I am out in front and make a wrong turn because everyone else is following me.”

Welty had trouble after crossing the Peoria Avenue Bridge.

“The thing was that at the start line they said it was the same course as last year,” Welty said. “Except that last year, the course was changed slightly from the plan because of flooding. This year you curved around and under the bridge.