For nine years, the Alternative House put on a 10K race (the CapitalOne Toucan 10K). This year the course was shortened to 5K and moved to Fairfax. The course started at the center of the Fairgrounds for the 25th Celebrate Fairfax. This weekend featured autumn-like weather with a cool breeze and a near perfect race temperature. Immediately after the racers crossed the ChampionChip mats, the course circled around a quick block (photo) and headed for the roads. Before the breeze and middling-sized hill could chill off the fast adrenalin-rush start, the first mile was done and runners were treated to a nearly all downhill second mile. The course twisted a lot so runners could never see too far ahead of them. More than 170 runners strung out along the rolling Government Center Parkway before the final 100 meters straightaway to the finish.

2004 winner Chris Banks of Alexandria, VA (left) came back to reprise with a 50-meter win over top masters runner Tim Schuler. Banks had a fine spring, capping off the May 20-21 weekend with a third overall at the Germantown 5 Miler in 25:28 and a fifth place Capitol Hill Classic in 32:20. Schuler, from Chambersburg, PA, has not been seen much on the roads since running an 8K and Half Marathon on consecutive days at the Shamrock Festival in Virginia Beach back in March. Third place Jean-Christophe Arcaz of Rockville, MD moved into the tough 45-49 division earlier this spring and is moving up the ranks with vigor. These three top athletes separated early from the field. Tom Clark of Burke, VA was the top grandmaster in 20:30. Terry McCarthy (71) of Leesburg continues his victory streak, having won his age group in 33 of 36 races since turning seventy.

For the women, Saturday's Lawyers have Heart 10K winner Alisa Harvey of Manassas, VA (left) looked like the clear favorite. She had won the 10K in 36:50. Just past the mile, Mary Jo Saunders of Harrisonburg, VA was still right with her. Saunders had won the Cascades 10K the last weekend in May in 38:35 on a scorching day. Harvey (40) is a national record holder in the 1500M. She pulled away in the second mile and won convincingly in 18:23. Saunders ran 19:07, more than two minutes ahead of the third woman. They were the fifth and sixth runners overall to finish.

Awards went three deep overall and for the top runner in each of the ten-year age groups.

Below, the race gets underway.

Male Awards

Place Num   Name                Ag City               Time    
===== ===== =================== == ================== ======= 
    1   228 Chris Banks         28 Alexandria VA        17:26 
    2   156 Timothy Schuler     43 Chambersburg PA      17:34 
    3   243 Jean-Christophe Arc 45 Rockville MD         17:46 
MALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 10
    1   164 Rusty Ford          10 Burke VA             25:52 
MALE AGE GROUP:  11 - 19
    1   205 Christopher Arambur 14 Fairfax VA           25:10 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 29
    1   103 Anthony McNair      24 Springfield VA       21:05 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 39
    1   207 Mark Hand           39 Arlington VA         18:21 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 49
    1   193 Tom Cook            47 Chantilly VA         19:06 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 59
    1   192 Tom Clark           52 Burke VA             20:28 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 69
    1    14 Richard Wiley       61 Centreville VA       28:00 
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 79
    1   216 Terence McCarthy    71 Leesburg VA          28:09 
MALE AGE GROUP:  80 - 99

Photo below: Tim Schuler (43) of Chambersburg, PA was the runner-up.

Female Awards

Place Num   Name                Ag City               Time    
===== ===== =================== == ================== ======= 
    1   185 Alisa Harvey        40 Manassas VA          18:23 
    2   242 Mary Jo Saunders    31 Harrisonburg VA      19:07 
    3   227 Izabela Banach      23 Washington DC        21:12 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 10
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  11 - 19
    1   180 Tomoka Yoshida      14 Herndon VA           24:43 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 29
    1   191 Mary Zettl          23 Alexandria VA        21:30 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 39
    1   100 Barbara Wigle       39 Centreville VA       21:53 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 49
    1   102 D J Cleary          44 Haymarket VA         24:07 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 59
    1    96 Janice Brannon      51 Lorton VA            28:34 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 69
    1   105 Nancy Demarco       60 Arlington VA         29:38 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 79
    1    16 Lillian Wolf        72 Silver Spring MD     53:18 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  80 - 99

Photo below: Mary Zettl (23) of Alexandria, VA finishes fourth overall in 21:30.

Full Race Day Results.

Photo Gallery 2006