Race Director’s Report
Moving the Run to Read Races from its traditional June date to May 12 made for cooler temperatures (around 60 degrees) and faster times. The 15K, the first event, saw 5 men finish under an hour. Jobey Knapton, who also won the 15K in 2010, outdueled Drew Woodford with a winning time of 54:56.3 The 19 year old Woodford’s time of 55:30.0 placed him 5th all time for the Run to Read 15K among those 19 and under. Tyson Snider finished 3rd in 56:02.2 followed by Christopher Pirie in 56:38.9 and Brent Lopick in 57:31.0.
On the ladies side 42 year old Debbie Conner broke the masters 15K record with her time of 1:04:43.7. She was followed by Tara Langdon in 1:07:15.5 and Sue Heavner in 1:09:25.9.
Seventy registered runners completed the 15K in its 13th and final year. Joey Herron was the only runner to finish all 13 races and he doubled back in the 5K several of those years. Details for next year’s 10K/5K event will be posted on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/334418786590966/) and eventually iPlayOutside will have this event listed for 2013 when details are finalized.
The women “stole the show” in the 5K with several record setting performances. Chelsea Clark shattered Keri Bland’s record as she finished in 19:39. Clark placed 4th overall. Sue Heavner , 2nd overall, smashed her own master’s 5K record as she ran 23 flat. Olga Hawranick who was 5th overall set a new event record in the 12 & under class with a time of 24:08. Drema Ford didn’t set a record in the 50-54 age group but she did run the 2nd best time ever (25:17) by a grand master in the 14 year history of the Run to Read 5K. Cora Campbell finished the record breaking morning running a time of 29:18. That was a new mark in the 55-59 age group.
On the men’s side Tyson Snider won the 5K in 17:36 and had the lowest total time, 1:13:38, among the 17 runners who completed both events. Shane Cooney finished 2nd in 18:52 followed closely by Christopher Pirie in 18:54.
98 runners finished the 5K. For the first time in Run to Read history (not counting the 5K walk), a majority of finishers were female. The ladies have come close to having more finishers in recent years in both the half marathon and 15K.
This year’s Run to Read Triple Crown winners are Sue Heavner and Ron Hamric, both of whom are entitled to free entry in next year’s three Run to Read events. (This competition is age graded.) Long sleeve tech shirts will be available at next year’s half marathon for the 14 “hard core” runners who ran all 3 events this year. Heavner set a new age group record in the 45-49 age group in the combined category. Hamric nearly had a hat trick with records in the 55-59 age group for the 15K and combined. His 5K time of 20:34 was very close to the existing standard of 20:27.8.
Plans for 2013 include not only replacing the 15K with a 10K but also holding the event on a July evening at Fairmont’s 12th Street Pool. Plans are for a pool party for runners and walkers and their families.
Updates will be posted on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/334418786590966/),
iPlayOutside & RunningintheUSA. Age group records for the Run to Read 15K/5K are posted at runningintheusa.com/run2read.
If you find any mistakes in the event records or if your name is missing from the list of those completing the Triple Crown, please email me at run2read@yahoo.com.
The 8th annual Run to Read Half Marathon will be held on January 6, 2013. This event will be chip timed at both the start and finish. Online registration is open at signmeup.com. Printable registration forms are available, too.
The first annual Miles of Smiles Half Marathon/5K is scheduled for November 18 at Monongah. This event will take place on the West Fork Rail Trail. It will feature chip timing and long sleeve tech shirts. Finisher medals will go to those completing the half marathon. Like the Run to Read Half Marathon, lots of food will be available afterwards. Arrangements are not finalized for this event.
On behalf of Literacy Volunteers of Marion County, I would like to thank our sponsors for the 15K/5K; Family First Chiropractic, Rider Pharmacy, Town of Pleasant Valley, MCPARC, State Senator Roman Prezioso, Jr., Mon Valley Bank, Pepsi and Times West Virginian. A big tip of the race director’s hat goes to all the hard working volunteers who made this event possible. Thank you to all the runners, walkers and fun runners who supported LVMC by registering for this event.