POULSBO — Games were afoot in downtown Poulsbo Saturday and Sunday during the 40th annual Viking Fest fete. Poulsbo Parks and Recreation Director Mary McCluskey said a record number of runners turned out for Saturday morning’s road races. Four hundred took on the one mile; 375 dared the five-mile jaunt. And 100 kids showed their stuff in the sprinting competitions on Front Street, which was lined with supporters cheering on competitors of all ages.

Despite the thermometers measuring close to 90 degrees, racers Devyn Vining and Kristie Holt both said the five-mile run was a great one.

“It was hard but it was really fun,” Vining, 12, said. She clocked in at 45:15.

Holt, 13, who pulled off a time of 39:17, said the heat got her feet moving even faster.

“It was definitely worth it,” she said. “It made you feel nice and sticky, but (it was) motivation!”

Food was the name of the game Sunday, as the first-ever Viking Fest Iron Chef competition preluded the crowd-favored lutefisk eating contest.

Four teams representing area restaurants and businesses — Michael’s Market Kitchen/Marina Market, That’sa Some Italian, Sheila’s Portside Restaurant and Bayside Broiler — slaved over open-air stoves in Waterfront Park in a battle for the inaugural title. Viewers camped out to watch the professionals slice, dice and grill their way toward a $300 prize. Each team prepared two dishes, for which they had $75 to purchase ingredients. They were judged on authenticity, crowd appeal, appearance and taste, and had to include potatoes, the secret ingredient unknown before that day. All put on an impressive and interactive show, but it was Michael’s Market Kitchen/Marina Market that took top prize.

“It was an honor to go up head-to-head against all the other independent restaurants,” said Michael’s Market Kitchen owner Michael Trevors. He was joined by teammates Glen Robbins and Matt Lamagna. “I’m really glad that the Viking Fest organizers are trying to pull in the local business community. The independent businesses are the heart and soul of this community and we all need to support them.”

That’sa Some Italian took second place. Both teams said they will donate some of their winnings back to the Viking Fest Corp.

Lutefisk eaters took center stage for the annual chow down Sunday afternoon. Six started the competition, which was soon narrowed to three after a brief semi-final round. Each was commissioned to swallow four pounds of lye-soaked cod in a span of 15 minutes. Despite a few big belches and some gag reflex close calls, their stomachs proved steel traps as all three contestants tipped their heads back, mouths awaiting fistfuls of ‘fisk. After a tight race to the finish, it was Kingston’s Jake Watrous who commanded the lead at the end, sealing his first-ever champion title. Last year’s winner, Eric Perkins of Kingston, nabbed third. And it was Trayton newcomer Jack Knight, wearing a Speed Racer shirt, who put his speed eating skills to use and swung in at second.

After the contest, Watrous said he was feeling fine, if not a little fishy.

“I feel good. … I feel more fish than human,” he joked.