Michael Wardian (29) of Arlington, VA, in his second race of the weekend wins handily in 25:30
There was perfect running weather for the 2nd annual National Race to Stop the Silence on Sunday, April 10, drawing hundreds of runners and walkers to the streets of downtown Washington, DC. Nearly 900 people registered for the 8K and 5K distances and came out to learn about and help prevent child sexual abuse.

Michael Wardian (29) of Arlington, VA, in his second race of the weekend, won by forty seconds, beating the field of 8K runners, and all but three of the 5K fun run participants. He ran a 5:08 pace for a finishing time of 25:30. Wardian was second in the Run for Hospice 10K the day before in Leonardtown, MD. John Collin (27) of Washington, DC was second, and Jeffrey McCarthy (27), also of Washington, was third in 27:17. Venerable racer Ted Poulos of McLean, VA was fourth overall and the first masters division finisher in 28:16. Poulos won the Springburst 8K the day before in 29:26 on a much hillier course.

Alexandria's Jacqueline Cook (27) took the women's race by two minutes six seconds over Emily Pierce Emah (29) of Silver Spring, MD. Leah McBride (23) of Woodbridge, VA was third in 34:26. In the masters division, Jean Arthur of Silver Spring, MD was eighth overall, running 37:21. Women outnumbered men in both races, with 229 finishers in the 8K and 129 in the 5K.

Although it was a noncompetitive fun run/walk, the 5K distance was timed. R.J. Spalding of Rockville, MD broke the tape in 19:20, more than five minutes ahead of the second finisher. On the women's side, Allison Vitalo (29) of Washington, DC finished first in 28:49, just three seconds ahead of her competitive sister, Kerri Vitalo Logan, also 29, of Arlington, VA.

Before the race, students from Suitland High School performed skits to highlight the problem of child sexual abuse, the Wizards Dance Team led the aerobic warm-up, and Race Director Pamela Pine read a proclamation from Mayor Williams proclaiming April 10 "Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse" day in Washington, DC. Afterwards, the crowd was moved listening to people talk about the abuse they had endured as children. Children's activities included a fun run with medals for all finishers, balloon art, face painting, chalk drawings on Pennsylvania Avenue, and prizes for all. The children were allowed to choose their toy and happy faces prevailed. Lots of post-race food and bottled water kept people coming back to the food tent for fresh cookies, bagels with cream cheese, fruit, pastries, granola bars, and other snacks.

Full Results

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