Bails, Regan step down after 25th Fifth Season race

Some race officials of the Alliant Fifth Season race will not resume their positions after Sunday's races in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Bill Bails served as the 8K competition's Elite Athlete Coordinator, but will turn the responsibilities over to someone else for the 2011 race. During that time, he's handled arrangements foe top-level runners to be part of the field.

“I'm looking forward to someone else taking it over and me just running in the event,” said Bails, who has organized a number of 5K races in Eastern Iowa. “I'll still run in it though.”

He did participate in the event about 10 times before assuming his official post. He doesn't plan to walk away from the event for good, and won't leave organizers in a lurch either.

“I also told them I'd be glad to help whoever they get to replace me,” Bails said. “Pitch in all I can there but I don't want to be the head of the elite athletes anymore. It's a lot of work. It's time consuming.”

Race director Mike Regan also said Sunday that the 25th anniversary race will be his last in that role. Regan has been the Fifth Season race director for seven years.