Save the date, Sunday, September 19, 2004, 8:00 AM, for the 5th PVI Runfest 5K, the fastest 5K in Northern Virginia. The start and finish are at Paul VI Catholic High School (10675 Lee Highway). The USATF certified course is two loops with a challenging hill after mile one that is passed again in the second loop. The race is sponsored by Nike, Metro Run & Walk and Clarke-Hook Corporation.

The race registration is $15; students (12th grade and lower) pay $10 until September 10, 2004. New this year will be the pre-race pasta dinner at the school on Saturday, September 18, 2004. On-line race registration can be found at http://www.active.com.

Congressman Tom Davis of Virginia said of last year's race: "This is always a good community event. I could not train like I wanted because I was in Iraq. This is an international race. I felt good the whole way and I should have started my sprint earlier."

The only person to break 14 minutes was Mohammed Amyn of Morocco with 13:54 (event record) last year. Ray Pugsley of Potomac River Running set the original record in the first year with 14:55. The record has fallen each year.

Martha Komu of Kenya is the only woman to go under 17 minutes and set the record with 16:36 in 2002. The record has been falling each year since Alisa Harvey of Metro Run and Walk set it in 2000 with 17:36.

John Tuttle of Douglas, Georgia, set the master's record at 15:38 in 2001. Simon Karori of Kenya ran 15:44 in 2002. They are the only two masters runners who have gone under 16 minutes.

The female master record has been falling since the first year as well when Sarah Buckheit of Reston, Va., ran 21:11 in 2000. Last Year, Maria Spinnler of the Cumberland Valley Athletic Track Club set the record at 18:35 and is the only masters female to have gone under 19 minutes.

"I was worried about my teammates, we train together. I was concerned about the other competition from some of the other runners, they were pushing the pace. If someone would have went 4:20 I would have been right there," stated Eliud Barngetuny of Kenya, the 2002 winner (14:42).

"I love to have good runners and to have competition. I was surprised that Darrell General went by me; I thought this was supposed to be a small race. I'm a 3:53 miler. At the home stretch, I said I could do this," stated Ben Kapsoiya of Kenya, the runner-up in 2001 with 14:47.

"It was a tough course and I have not been doing any speed work and I was in oxygen debt going up the last hill. This was perfect with Jim Hage and Dave Berardi right there. I knew they wanted to beat me. Right after the first mile I felt like I wanted to back off, I was in pain," stated John Tuttle, the master's record holder of 15:38 set in 2001.

"I had no idea of where I was, you get the same butterflies before a race. It does not matter how low key a race is. It feels good that I haven't lost that much and I have something left. Just fighting through the last mile, we forget what that last mile feels like," stated Carole Zajc-Tynan of Sterling, Va., the 2001 winner in 17:16, a new record that year.

"I came out for the competition and I got much more. I hope that we can get some local guys to run with them. The pace was fast for everyone, I just pushed through it. I try to be as tough as I can. It shows that everybody has his day. I'm not disappointed," stated Ben Cooke, sixth place in 2002 (14:50).

"It was a good race with the Kenyans and the competition was good and I'm very happy. After two miles I felt a little tired. In the last 800 meters I have speed and I kicked. I train 120- 140 miles a week and run twice a day," stated record holder Mohammed Amyn.

"It was good competition. I caught Irina Suvorova at two miles and it took a bit out of me. I like the course. My first mile was 5:52. I didn't have a choice but to run hard. It feels good and it's hard this time of year and I don't take races for granted," stated master's record holder Maria Spinnler.

The top runners will compete for $4,150 in prize money:

Top 5 Open (male/female) $300-$200-$100-$50-$25
Bonus: $500 new event record for fastest male under 13:54
$500 new event record for fastest female under 16:36
$250 for fastest American male under 14:30
$250 for fastest American female under 17:00

Top 5 Master (male/female) $200-$100-$75-$50-$25
Bonus: $200 new event record for fastest male under 15:38
$200 new event record for fastest female under 18:22

Total Prize Money $4,150: Open $1,350, Master $900, Bonus $1,900

Top 3 age group awards in 5 year increments will receive medals. The first place in each age group will receive a Nike accessory.

The PVI Runfest is sponsored by Clarke-Hook Corporation, Metro Run & Walk, Nike along with Pohanka Automotive Group, Merrill Lynch, United Bank and The Business Bank and others.