Photo below: Start of the 2002 Leesburg 10K

The YMCA of Loudoun County announces the 15th annual Leesburg 10K fundraiser, which will start off at Market Station on Sunday, August 10, beginning 8:15 am sharp, with packet pickup and late registration beginning at 7:00 am that day. All interested runners may either register online with Capital Running Company at www.runwashington.com, call (703) 777-9622, or stop by the YMCA office off Catoctin Circle, located at 6 Fairfax Street in Leesburg, for a 10K brochure or more details. The pre-registrant fee is $20, and entries must be postmarked by July 28th. Registrations postmarked after July 28 and until August 7 are $22, and after August 7, $25. Packets may be picked up Saturday, August 9, at the YMCA office from noon until 4:00 pm.

The race course is unique in its scenic beauty, and is challenging as well. It begins and ends in historic Leesburg on Harrison Street in front of Market Station, with a nice downhill start. Runners pass through winding neighborhood streets, up and down a few hills, onto Dry Mill Road, and then to the W&OD trail. As Scott Maker of Centreville, VA, said, "It's four miles up, then two miles down, with a killer hill during mile four." Said Mark Baldino from Mason Neck, VA, "There are few other courses like it, since it is in such a rural setting."

In 2002, the Leesburg 10K added five-year age groups for participants age 35 and over. This makes the race more attractive than ever to competitors, since it permits a larger range of winning categories. Over the years, the race has grown from a field of 160 racers to nearly 800, as it is also an outstanding pre-cursor to the Marine Corps. Marathon. The YMCA is determined to see the numbers continue to grow.

Leesburg 10K has also become famous also for the generous amounts of food provided after the race and the valuable prizes donated by local businesses and individuals. "We pride ourselves in having some committee members who donate sought after Redskins tickets! The runners always love those," joked Jan A. Zachariasse, 2003 10K race committee chairman. Other prizes awarded to race winners and to random prize winners include overnight stays at B&B's, golf packages, generous dinners at fine restaurants, bottles of wine, and gift certificates to a variety of stores. All winners receive embroidered golf shirts, and some receive the coveted engraved cowbells. At this 10K, there is also a sense of fun created by the presence of a D.J. and free Good Humor ice cream, and there is a free kids' fun run of about a quarter of a mile, no registration required. Kids get to cross the 10K finish line and all finishers get a medal from the YMCA.

Every racer receives a collectible Leesburg 10K t-shirt. Over the years, the 700-pound cow that participated in the first race has been depicted on race t-shirts in many different ways. Once she was star spangled as the "A-moo-ican Spirit." When the YMCA began to participate in managing the race, cows on the t-shirts were shown in the familiar Y-M-C-A poses associated with the popular song. This year's race theme is the Art of Running, with "Claude Moo-net" featured on the t-shirts. According to one runner, "The t-shirt alone is worth the price of admission." Packie Crown, a valued committee member and an attorney with Reed Smith, has been involved with the t-shirt design for years. She says "the creative possibilities for themes revolving around that cow are endless."
Photo below: Maureen Lopina leads runners to the finish

Management of Fifteen-Year-Old
Leesburg 10K
They may run with the bulls in Pamplona, but at the Leesburg 10K, they run with the cows. Legend has it that at the first annual Leesburg 10K, held fifteen years ago, a 700 pound cow wandered into the midst of the runners, chewing contentedly on a shank of Virginia mayapple, and made quite a name for herself. Ever since then, the cow has been the mascot of the annual Leesburg 10K, a fundraiser for numerous local charities.

Started in 1989 by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association's (NVBIA) outreach committee, the Leesburg 10K has grown in numbers, stature, and popularity among runners in the Washington area. While providing a sanctioned venue for runners, the race also permitted the NVBIA to provide needed funds to a wide variety of charities that support the less fortunate children and families in Loudoun.

After managing the race for 13 years, the NVBIA wanted to turn it over to another organization so that the NVBIA's outreach committee could look at new opportunities to serve the community. The natural successor was YMCA Loudoun County, a recipient of the race's funds in the past, and an obvious advocate of fitness running. After two years of sharing the organization of the race, YMCA Loudoun County is taking the helm solo this year for the first time, with the continuing help of professional race organizers, Capital Running Company.

Jan A. Zachariasse, President of Waterford Development who is on the Board of NVBIA and is the Board Chairman of YMCA Loudoun County, is also the 2003 race committee chairman. Jan visualizes major growth in the Leesburg 10K and hopes to see the Y add other facets to race day in the years ahead, such as a 5K or 10K walk.

Although the YMCA Loudoun County could have become the sole beneficiary of the race, it has chosen to continue to share funds generated by the race with Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO), the Loudoun County Adult Respite Center, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing, and Loudoun Interfaith Relief, the other beneficiaries if the race under NVBIA. These charities and the YMCA provide the 50-60 volunteers needed on race day. Under the umbrella of NVBIA, major supporters of past races have been members of the building industry who continue to generously donate each year. This year, the YMCA fundraising team is reaching out to other area businesses, who are supporting their important efforts. The race provides area businesses with a great opportunity to show support for the YMCA's programs by donating prizes, gift certificates, food, items for the runners packets, and, of course, financial contributions. There are a wide range of sponsor benefits, which include recognition on the race Web site, race t-shirts, product display and give-a-ways, and much more.

Race proceeds are earmarked for the YMCA's Building Bridges Campaign, which raises funds to provide financial assistance and scholarships for those in the community that need support.

Questions about participating in the race, volunteering to help on race day, or making personal or business contributions may be directed to the YMCA Loudoun County at (703) 777-9622 or Miriam Nasuti, YMCA Loudoun County Board Member at (703) 771-8893.

The YMCA Loudoun County team would like to thank the following generous financial sponsors; Community Bank of Northern Virginia, Greenvest, Legum & Norman, Pulte Home Corp., Reston Hospital, Service Star USA, Waterford Development, William A. Hazel, and America Online.

You still have time to register for this fantastic summer event! Check out all the race information by visiting the Race Web Site.

For secure online registration, please visit the Online Registration Form and receive instant confirmation of your race entry.

To register by mail or fax, please see the Printable Entry Form and follow the instructions to register for the race.

If you've already registered, or just want to check out the competition, take a look at the List of Registered Runners!

Photo above: Finish line of the 2002 Leesburg 10K