Photo below: Jay Lochhead (left), 40 of Middletown, MD and Richard Buhrman, 55, finished the 2004 Leesburg 20K in 1:31:08.

Mayor Kristen Umstattd will be the official starter for the 17th Annual Leesburg 10K/20K, on Sunday, August 14, at 8:15 a.m. at Market Station, and Harry the Happy Dragon, Harris Teeter's mascot, will start the Children's Fun Run immediately after. Wendall Fisher, the YMCA's executive director, notes that the addition of the 20K race last year attracted hundreds of additional runners who visited the town of Leesburg for the day. The YMCA expects as many as 2000 runners this year.

See the Leesburg 10K/20K Web site for further information.

The entry fee is $25 for the 10K and $35 for the 20K. ChampionChip owners may provided their personal ChampionChip identification number and deduct $2 from their entry fee. Online registration is available Here until Thursday noon.

The entry fee includes ChampionChip rental, a great race, post- race refreshments, prizes, entertainment, and the cow-themed Leesburg 10K/20K T-shirt.

Late registration and packet pick-up will be held on Friday, August 12, from 3:00 to 7:30 pm at the Potomac River Running store, 20630 Ashburn Rd, Ashburn, VA, and on Saturday, August 13, at the Loudoun County YMCA, 6 Fairfax Street, Leesburg, VA, from noon to 4:00 pm.

Race day registration and packet pick-up will be held at Market Station near the starting line from 7:00 to 8:00 am.

For the first time, the YMCA has a title sponsor for the race, Harris Teeter, which is building its presence in Northern Virginia. Carolyn Ecker, race committee chairman, noted, "The YMCA is very proud that Harris Teeter selected the Y for this honor. Harris Teeter will provide all food and drinks for the race, as well as a sizeable cash contribution to the YMCA Loudoun County's Building Bridges Fund, which enables the YMCA to provide financial assistance to needy families who want to participate in YMCA programs, including summer day camp and after school care."

The YMCA's mission is to develop spirit, mind, and body, and build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities. Harris Teeter has a history of giving back to its communities to build strong, vibrant neighborhoods. Jennifer Panetta, Harris Teeter's Communications Manager, observed, "Harris Teeter's approach to community outreach focuses on educating young people, feeding the hungry, and meeting specific community needs. This makes the YMCA and Harris Teeter a natural match."

The YMCA faces a new challenge with the race course this year, because VDOT will no longer permit running races on Dry Mill Road, and the town of Leesburg wants to minimize disruption to traffic. On the redrawn course, the race will still begin and end at Market Station on Harrison Street and turn right onto Catoctin Circle briefly, but then it will turn right into Virginia Village Shopping Center, run through the parking lot to King Street, turn right on King, and then quickly make a left on the W&OD Trail, for an out and back run of 10K or 20K, depending upon the individual runner's preference.

At some points, runners will be going in both directions on the trail, a challenge for race planners and runners as well. The YMCA has taken pains to notify local bicycle clubs about the race, to encourage safety for all. The bicycle clubs have been cooperative and grateful for the "heads up."

Childrens' Fun Run: A free kids' fun run of about one- quarter mile will be held immediately after the start of the 10K and 20K races. No registration is necessary. Just show up and run! Children will cross the official finish line, and medals will be awarded to all finishers!

Volunteers for the race include supporters of ECHO, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing, Loudoun Adult Day Center, and Loudoun Interfaith Relief, and in return for their help, each organization will receive a portion of the race proceeds. The YMCA will also provide volunteers, and Singles Volunteers of DC plans to send teams to man two of the race's water stops.

In addition to Harris Teeter, race sponsors include AOL, Greenvest, Inova Loudoun Healthcare, Berman Goldman & Ribakow, Bomstein Agency, Dulles Motor Cars, Loudoun Medical Group, Potomac River Running, Reed Smith, Uniwest Group, Walker Title & Escrow, Waterford Development, Au Pair Care, Gold's Gym, Kramer and Levine, McWilliams/Ballard, Middleburg Bank, Minuteman Press, Sherry Wilson and Company, and Symphony Development Group.

About the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington
The YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is the 15th largest YMCA in North America. The association operates more than 20 branches and program centers in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. In addition, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is the largest non-profit child care provider in the region. The organization is open to people of all ages, faiths, races and cultural backgrounds. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.ymcaloudouncounty.org.

Read about the 2004 Leesburg 10K/20K