Sure, there was a foot race, run under a cloudy sky and cool conditions that were ideal, but with nearly 300 runners and walkers from across the state, almost all of whom came to honor and celebrate their patriarch, the late Bill Pinkham, the Flattop was an “Old Home Day” in sneakers.

“It’s the people,” said O’Keefe. “It’s coming out of winter and seeing all the road race followers. It’s like a family. When you’re scattered all about in winter, to have a gathering like this, it’s nice to see so many familiar faces you haven’t seen.”

Bar Harbor’s Peter Keeney races Ty Davis of Robbinston to the finish line during Saturday’s Flattop 5K. Davis edged out Keeney for 34th place in the field of 180 runners.—CRAIG CROSBY PHOTO

In other words, it was without a doubt just the sort of race Pinkham would have loved. Known as much for his snow-white, flattop haircut (a look that earned him the nickname “Q-tip”) as he was for his almost manic race attendance, Pinkham passed away at the age of 62 last year following the July 4 Walter Hunt Memorial race.

“Once Bill passed away, we knew we had to have a race for him,” said Robin Emery, Pinkham’s longtime friend and running companion.

Runners remembered Pinkham with a moment of silence at several races following his passing. But Saturday’s Flattop 5K was the first race created in his honor. Everything about the race had a purpose. The starting line in Lamoine State Park, in his hometown, overlooks the bay Pinkham guarded as the town’s harbormaster and is home to the Department of Marine Resources office where he once worked as a marine patrol officer. The relatively flat and short 3.11-mile course was manageable for even inexperienced runners. Even the registration fee, a paltry $6, was set with Pinkham in mind.

“He didn’t like expensive races,” Emery laughed.

“He would have wanted everyone to have a great time and an equal time doing it,” said Connie Wallace, Pinkham’s daughter.

A runner crosses the finish line as her passengers sleep and take in the sights during Saturday’s first-ever Flattop 5K, run in memory of Bill Pinkham, who passed away following a road race last summer.—CRAIG CROSBY PHOTO

The race drew a cross-section of athletes, from runners pushing baby strollers to grade-school children like 10-year-old Luke Johnson of Southwest Harbor, to seniors like 80-year-old Cartlon Johnson of Windham, the oldest runner signed up to run this month’s Boston Marathon. Top-flight runners competed against first-time racers. There was even a field of walkers that included Pinkham’s widow, Amelia Pinkham, who was competing in a race for the first time in her life rather than cheering her husband from the sidelines.

“It was like a microcosm of the Maine running scene,” said Bar Harbor’s Kevin Johnson. “People came from all over. It’s a really great tribute to Bill Pinkham. He was an excellent representative of what running is all about.”

But more than the race’s diversity, what most touched Pinkham’s family and friends was the sheer number of runners who turned out. Roughly 100 had registered as of Friday night, but on Saturday another 80 showed up to swell the ranks. That was in addition to a group of roughly 100 walkers.

“Bill would have been overwhelmed and happy,” said Amelia Pinkham. “I never expected this. I knew there were people coming and I knew it would be big, but never did I have any idea it would be this big.”

Race organizers cleaned out Bill Pinkham’s closet and offered up the hundreds of T-shirts the runner had accumulated at races throughout the years. Spread out on the table, the shirts were a scrapbook of cotton that runners pored over, smiling at those that sparked memories of forgotten races. Bar Harbor runner Peter Keeney proudly showed off his take, a T-shirt from the only Woodlawn cross-country race in 1996.

“There are some vintage race shirts that I didn’t even know existed,” Emery said.

Robin Emery, a friend and running partner of the late Bill Pinkham, and Pinkham’s daughter, Connie Wallace, (left to right, below) chat with a friend before a field of 180 runners took off from Lamoine State Park (above) for Saturday’s Flattop 5K. The race was run in honor of Pinkham.—CRAIG CROSBY PHOTO

As they milled around at the finish line before and after the race, the runners reminisced about Bill.

“We did a lot of things together,” said Robert Jordan of Ellsworth, who met Bill in 1987. “Bill was a nice man. Any time you wanted something done, Bill would come over and help you out. He was always there. Everybody knew Bill. Everybody knew the white hair. He just stood out. He treated everybody the same.”

Others rarely if ever spoke to Bill, but his race attendance, his instantly recognizable appearance, and his unfailingly positive personality made even those who never met him feel like they knew him.

“I saw him a lot,” said race winner Erik McCarthy. “He used to run all the races.”

“I didn’t know Bill personally, but I saw him at all the races,” said O’Keefe. “He supported every race out there.“

Volunteers began organizing the race in January. Holding it April 1, when rain is likely and snow is possible, caused a few anxious moments, particularly as the skies darkened on Saturday.

But the rain held off and a gentle breeze cooled the field of runners.

“My father’s smiling right now,” said Karen Hall. “He’s probably in the midst of the pack, but he’s smiling that so many people turned out. I can’t believe it.”

Connie Wallace ran wearing a button featuring a picture of her dad crossing the finish line of a race. Bill made friends in the field and encouraged fellow competitors forward. It is not surprising, then, that he did the same for Wallace.

“My father got me into [running] seven years ago,” she said. “I just started going up the road and back with him. He would inspire and spur me on a little bit because mostly I walked. He’d say, ‘We can run to that post up there.’ That’s how I got into it and it was a great way to connect with him. Just running with him.”

At her husband’s funeral, Amelia Pinkham heard from runner after runner how her husband’s life had touched so many others. More memories of the man lovingly referred to as Q-tip flowed on Saturday.

“This has been good,” Amelia said. “This has been a good experience. It’s overwhelming how many people he touched. A lot of people didn’t even know Bill, but have shown up in support of me. It’s just overwhelming. It’s wonderful.”

The complete results from Saturday’s Flattop 5K are as follows:

1) Erik McCarthy, Old Town 16:53
2) Andrew Goupee, Ellsworth 16:55
3) Joey Luchini, Ellsworth 17:09
4) Andy Beardsley, Surry 17:10
5) Phil Lebreton, Bangor 17:23
6) Tim Wakeland, Dedham 17:29
7) Eric Rudolph, Sullivan 17:57
8) Brian Oickle, Winterport 18:00
9) Susannah Beck, Sedgewick 18:02 —Women’s Winner
10) Tommy McWalters, Thorndike 18:09
11) Newell Lewey, Orono 18:12
12) Jonathan Aretakis, Pembroke 18:30
13) Michael Stanton, Hulls Cove 18:35
14) Tim Tunney, Ellsworth 18:45
15) Austin Townsend Jr., Perry 18:46
16) Henry Bauer, Steuben 18:50
17) Steve Frederick, Moab, UT 18:50
18) Mark Wanner, Bar Harbor 18:59
19) Steve Connor, Ellsworth 19:01
20) David Painter, Bar Harbor 19:04
21) Ryan King, Bangor 19:05
22) David Dent, Whiting 19:07
23) Stacy White, Franklin 19:12
24) Ian Jones, Mount Desert 19:16
25) Name Unknown 19:17
26) Wanda Pinkham, Mariaville 19:19
27) Heidi Strout, Windham 19:21
28) Earl Pinkham, Steuben 19:24
29) Mike Bickford, Mount Desert 19:36
30) Luke Johnson, Southwest Harbor 19:52
31) Guy Berthiaume, Chelsea 19:52
32) Peter Lodge, Bangor 19:53
33) A. Favolise-Stanton, Hulls Cove 19:54
34) Ty Davis, Robbinston 20:01
35) Peter Keeney, Bar Harbor 20:02
36) Matthew Cassidy, Maine 20:03
37) Steven Ensworth, Blue Hill 20:18
38) Stephanie Allard, Perry 20:24
39) Katie Churchill, Bangor 20:25
40) Judson Esty-Kendall, Orono 20:36
41) John Peckenham, Orland 20:41
42) Keith Bowles, Winthrop 20:43
43) Gary Larson, Dover-Foxcroft 20:48
44) Kate McGuire, Ellsworth 20:51
45) Mathew Macone, Hampden 21:00
46) Kevin Johnson, Bar Harbor 21:04
47) Name Unknown 21:08
48) Name Unknown 21:09
49) Mike Dineen, Maine 21:11
50) Terrie Pinkham, Steuben 21:11
51) Merrily Welch, Temple 21:14
52) Wes Tate, Otis 21:16
53) Rachel Oickle, Winterport 21:19
54) Daniel Curts, Ellsworth 21:30
55) Chris Almy, Charleston 21:36
56) Kevin Dow, Eddington 21:44
57) Lara Rand, Orrington 21:47
58) Micah Peabody, Southwest Harbor 21:50
59) John Tjepkema, Orono 21:51
60) Rick Roussell Sr., Calais 21:53
61) Robert Gashlin, Falmouth 21:54
62) Angela Ewings, Littleton 21:55
63) Geoff Manifold, Gouldsboro 21:57
64) Dennis Beers, Dixmont 22:05
65) Jeff Bruce, Birch Harbor 22:11
66) Christopher Simpson, Whiting 22:13
67) Dick Evans, Concord, MA 22:16
68) Cliff Rogers, Ellsworth 22:20
69) Rob Hetzer, Otter Creek 22:28
70) Linda Mountain, Mapleton 22:29
71) Jenne Kelly, Bangor 22:33
72) Mary Dudzik, Bar Harbor 22:35
73) Beth Allen, Farmington 22:38
74) Bob Bachorick, Farmington 22:42
75) Dave Svec, Eastbrook 22:44
76) William Lunt, Tenants Harbor 22:45
77) Greg Dorr, Bangor 22:56
78) Bob Jordan, Ellsworth 22:58
79) Mary Parsons, Hampden 23:07
80) Tim Garrity, Blue Hill 23:08
81) Lori Sinclair, Ellsworth 23:17
82) Sheila Hodges 23:21
83) John Murphy, Southwest Harbor 23:24
84) Dave Samuelian, Bangor 23:28
85) David Wilson, Stockton Springs 23:40
86) Steven Knowles, Charlotte 23:40
87) Michael Carter, Machias 23:48
88) Lori Jane, Mount Desert 23:51
89) Dwight Brown, Ellsworth 24:06
90) Erv MacDonald, Houlton 24:12
91) Anne Sekins, Searsport 24:16
92) David Benn, Ellsworth 24:17
93) Shannon Horton, Trenton 24:22
94) John Churchill, Robbinston 24:23
95) Phil Stuart, Machias 24:32
96) Mark Alex, Hope 24:35
97) Brenda Bailey, Houlton 24:43
98) Mark Ensworth, Blue Hill 24:59
99) Vaughn Jordan, Waltham 24:59
100) B. O’Keefe, Prospect Harbor 25:03
101) Don Bell, Bar Harbor 25:15
102) Paula Lunt, Tenants Harbor 25:19
103) Mike Conners, Bass Harbor 25:19
104) C. Pinkham-Wallace, Lamoine 25:22
105) Desiree Sirois, Southwest Harbor 25:30
106) Steve Weinstein, Charleston 25:33
107) Dick Storch, Orono 25:37
108) Jim Newett, Ellsworth 25:38
109) Lisa McGowan, Ellsworth 26:14
110) Robin Emery, Lamoine 26:17
111) Terri Jones, Waltham 26:20
112) Amy Tunney, Ellsworth 26:23
113) Eric Giles, Franklin 26:32
114) Janet Scully, Plymouth 26:33
115) Beth Lawson, Bernard 26:37
116) Scott Farley, Bernard 26:38
117) Name Unknown 26:41
118) Peter Knowles, Charlotte 26:42
119) Dustin Smelley, Ellsworth 26:48
120) Gary Burgess, Dedham 26:49
121) Jocelyn Lloyd, Holden 26:57
122) Ron Paquette, Albion 26:58
123) Name Unknown 27:03
124) Name Unknown 27:08
125) John Lloyd, Holden 27:13
126) Andy Haslam, S. Portland 27:20
127) Paul Roche, Houston, TX 27:24
128) Kellie Stratton, S. Portland 27:27
129) Matt McFarland, Bar Harbor 27:31
130) Cindy Pave, Holden 27:35
131) Ericka Duym, Bar Harbor 27:46
132) Joseph Palmer, Ellsworth 27:48
133) Judy Belton, Rockport 27:53
134) P. Murphy, Southwest Harbor 28:05
135) Stephen Fay, Ellsworth 28:11
136) Sasha Ertl, Bar Harbor 28:12
137) Tony Beardsley, Surry 28:13
138) Donne Sinderson, Orrington 28:14
139) Jane Rau, Chelsea 28:37
140) James Sollxis, Bucksport 28:58
141) Amy Faircloth, Bangor 28:59
142) Sarah Ensworth, Blue Hill 29:08
143) Rene Collins, Brewer 29:21
144) Steve Norton, Bucksport 29:22
145) Andrea Hatch, Castine 29:40
146) Harold Hatch, Castine 29:57
147) Mary Moore, Orrington 29:58
148) Lynn Caron, Glenburn 29:59
149) Betsy Roberts, Mount Desert 30:07
150) Cory Plaisted, Ellsworth 30:07
151) L. Rich, Walnut Creek, CA 30:08
152) Dick Miles, Bangor 30:14
153) Tori Belanger, Auburn 30:17
154) Shawn MacDonald, Auburn 30:18
155) Janet Hamel, Bar Harbor 30:21
156) Kristy Nicholas, Lamoine 30:31
157) Diane Fehrenbach, Lamoine 30:38
158) Gary Hartman, Lamoine 30:38
159) Jessica Hicks, Franklin 30:54
160) Emma Seekins, Searsport 30:55
161) K. Wilson, Stockton Springs 31:09
162) Kim Beekman, Bangor 31:18
163) Lis Ayers, Sullivan 31:23
164) C. Bachorick, Farmington 31:38
165) Dale Violette, Bradley 31:51
166) Jason Orcutt, Bucksport 32:21
167) Scott Grierson, Bass Harbor 32:44
168) Stanley Grierson, Bass Harbor 32:45
169) Jim Willis, Lamoine 32:45
170) V. Davilla, Bass Harbor 34:06
171) Steven Juskewitch, Dedham 34:08
172) Name Unknown 34:13
173) Corline Felkel, Mount Desert 34:30
174) Mary Alice Bruce, Corea 34:34
175) Frank Roberts, Mount Desert 35:37
176) Dale Dickie, Brownville Jnt. 41:00
177) Gene Ross, Houlton 41:01
178) Carlton Mendell, Windham 43:30
179) Dottie Labor, Holden 47:09
180) Skip Howard, Bangor 47:10