By Christy Wolyniak, News Intern

Proud of their Nordic heritage, 150 Ballardites bonded together on a cool Saturday morning for the annual Leif-to-Leif 5k race. The course ran from the Leif Erikson Lodge to the majestic Leif Erikson statue at Shilshole Marina and back.

The Leif-to-Leif race was organized by Diane Adams to benefit the Northwest Senior Center. This is her second year running the event. “The turnout this year was beyond our expectations. Last year we had about 65 runners, and there’s more ever year,” she said. “[Whether they’re runners or walkers], everyone goes out to be with friends and to have something to do [together].”

Runners and walkers were greeted with coffee and heart-shaped Norwegian waffles before the race began. Enjoying a coffee was Laurie Nunnelee from Kenmore. “I’m happy to support the NW Senior Center. The serious folks who are running are going to be burning up the road – then there’s the people with their coffee,” she laughed.

Janice Franett is from Lake Forest Park. Her mother, maiden name Stokke, emigrated from Norway to South Dakota, and her family has been in Washington since 1956. The Stokke family is still in Norway to this day.

The ladies joked about popular Norwegian expresses such as, “Ya ya, you betcha,” and “Uffda” - said like a sigh, exclamation, or anything really depending on the situation.

As the determined racers weaved their way around Ballard, Russ Oberg, former president of the Leif Erikson Lodge, commented on the history of the lodge accompanied by an amiable tour. The lodge began as a result of the Sons of Norway organization, which was founded by immigrants as an internal insurance company dedicated to taking care of widows who lost their husbands. According to Oberg, these lodges were the hub of social life and everyone took care of each other.

Little has changed today. Inside the lodge, the words, “Kaffe-Stua” donned the entrance to a quaint room for coffee and lefse – a traditional tortilla/pancake-type food. “This room reminds me of my mother’s kitchen,” said Oberg with a smile.

Round kitchen-like tables sprawled playfully across the small room, as an entire kitchen complete with wooden cabinets wrapped one corner of the room. A snapshot in time, this kitchen provides coffee and treats much like a comfortable cafeteria during the week for lodge members.

Four ladies around the age of 80 seemed to be the hands and sweat behind planning and preparing for the luncheon sale upstairs to raise money for the lodge following the race.

“One of us is 84 and the other three will be 80 this year. We are there in the morning and we are there to the end,” said Randi Aulie, former president of the lodge in 2002. Aulie said she was proud to be the only real Norwegian woman as president as the only other female president was part American.

“She’s unstoppable. [I swear] she’s busier than both my parents and me combined. She cooks for all of the events,” said Aulie’s grandson, Jens Vodal.

Aulie is proud that her grandson cares about his Norwegian tradition, and she hopes to keep their heritage alive by bringing more young people to lodge events. The Leif-to-Leif race is just one of the many events the Leif Erikson Lodge hosts that connect the community of Ballard with its rich heritage.