Originally run in Vienna as the CapitalOne Toucan 10K starting in 1997, the race grew to a record 324 finishers in 2004. Less than half of that number raced the following year. The race then moved to Fairfax and tried to revive as a 5K. The 5K distance is the most often raced distance and the results only improved a bit, to 171 finishers. Thus, in 2007, the race moved on to a third distance and that should be the charm. As an 8K, more than 250 runners finished.

The race starts just outside the Fairfax County Government Center, conveniently wrapped in the grounds of the Celebrate Fairfax Festival. The setting makes for a very interesting serpentine ride through the festival and out to the main road. The nearly 5-mile rollercoaster course winds around and around the center. It finishes with a z-shaped dash past the tents to cross the ChampionChip mats.

With the sweltering heat from the past few days and the thousands of runners who already raced at Lawyers Have Heart 10K the day before, it was great to see so many runners out racing. Representative Tom Davis is a regular race participant, including also at the Annandale Atoms 5K in May and is the honorary chair for this race. His wife, state senator Jeannemarie Devolites, served as the official starter.

As the runners approached the starting mats, there were a couple of runners who were graciously waved to the front. Veteran runners can spot talent. The first couple hundred meters after the G-O word, racers charged through the tented fairgrounds before rocketing down the long hill in the first mile. The two lead runners were just wisps of smoke in the distance with the lead car trying desperately to stay in front of them. There was cash for the top three places ($100-$75-$50), which might have justified an appearance from elite runner and third place finisher Zereu Kelele. Kelele had run 53:50 at the GW Parkway 10 Mile this spring. His 26:02 finish here might well have been enough. Yet Biyhanu Wukaw (25) of Washington, DC, spotting Abrasha Asees (24) of Washington, DC two precious seconds at the start, flew over the course for a photo finish 24:27. It earned him top dollar. (In photo, Wukaw, #503, wears his victory smile.)

The race traditionally only goes one deep in ten-year age groups but the prizes, which include store gift certificates, gift baskets, and entertainment tickets, were well worth racing one's heart out. Tom Cook (48) of Chantilly, VA was fifth male overall and seventh again this year. Last year, two male masters finished in the top three and the women's winner, Alisa Harvey (40) were among the six runners ahead of him. So, he still won the age group. This year his time of 31:28 made him the top male in the masters division. The top female master went to the second place woman, Kelly Dworak (45), of Burke, VA in 31:16. The masters division for women is still very competitive even though Harvey, who won the Lawyers Have Heart 10K in the same weekend last year as well, stayed away from another double after a third place finish at this year's Lawyers.

Diana Burk (19) of Alexandria, VA (in photo) started fast and unlike many teen runners did not fade winning in 30:51. Third place Anita Freres (42) of Reston, VA (33:31) does not travel a long way for races. Last month she was second master at the Cascades Fire Chase 10K in 43:02 on a similar rolling course. That day was a little hotter but this race had humidity as high as it goes without actually raining. She noticed, as did most of the runners, that after the first downhill mile the going got tougher.

Fourth place Andrea Kaltenbuagh (33) of Springfield, VA has only been racing around here for about two years. She stayed tenaciously close to Freres for three quarters of the race before throttling back to finish in 33:59. Always a ranked runner, fifth place Sushila Nanda (46) of Arlington, VA was nearby with 34:14. After the race, she bemoaned the fact that her division is so competitive even with three of top five regulars on injured reserve.

Seth Copley (17, in photo) all the way from Flagstaff, AZ was tops among the three teens who finished with the top 12 men with 32:19. Among the older runners, there were few competitors, and only two women over 50. With the men, Leo Wynne was the only 70-79 runner, and Michael Golash (36:02) defeated only one other runner in the 60-69 division. There were 15 men in the youngest grandmaster division, which was won by James Moreland (54) of Gaithersburg, MD in 33:51. They must have had an inkling of the most valuable prize, two box seats at a Nationals Game on August 19, 2007. The seats, valued at $120 each, along with free parking, make a wonderful 55th birthday present for Moreland.

Full Race Day Results
Race Day Report for 2007
Photo Gallery 2007
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