In the photo below, author James Moreland runs down the home stretch on the W&OD Trail.

Churning west on Leesburg Pike the clouds looked ominous. Still, they had promised cooler weather and threatened rain for the much of last week and we were treated to the finest weather we have had all year. I had run other races in Leesburg this year. It started with mush and slush for the Resolution 10K in January and finished with wet and oxygen debt at the other end of the W & OD Trail in downtown Leesburg in August.

Crossing into Loudoun County, the clouds opened up briefly, just enough to start my windshield wipers. It also jump-started my adrenal gland because the already perfect sixty degrees would be a bit cool to take a shower. Even with the cancellation of the DCRRC National Capital 20 Miler, there were many other events this weekend, so I was fully surprised at the traffic that greeted me as I turned onto Dry Mill Road.

It was like a rock concert. Sure, the road curved and weaved, undulating around the running trail but runners were blazing past us. The time was 7:55 and my car was starting to overheat. There was tons of parking but it was all on wet grass. Scores of flag persons led the car caravan like a snake winding around the 4H Fairgrounds. I was relegated to greener pastures.

Runners were still milling around so it was obvious the race would be postponed to allow all of us to start. The ChampionChip was being used so runners would have net and gun times. Last year the two races had nearly eight hundred runners. It was clear the numbers would be just as high. As per usual, the longer run gets the top billing. With nearly two hundred 5K finishers, it was manifest that not everyone was thinking long.

Just before we started the half marathon, we were advised that the water stop at 1.5 miles was really for the 5Kers. They promised us there would be plenty of water for us. I took a quick glance at the darkening skies and hoped that they would not be too right.

The course map does not do this race justice. Word of mouth from many returning veterans was that the course was--here comes that dreaded word "S" word--"scenic." We lumbered over the ChampionChip mats looking like cattle guards on the mud and gravel trail leading to Dry Mill Road. Hurtling down the road, we noticed many runners far off in the distance. Judging from last year's times, they must have been 5K runners. Passing the first mile, one runner looked at his watch, turned and moaned, "We are going to pay for this!"

Indeed, the first two miles were roaring downhill. Unfortunately, downhills are notoriously followed by uphills. Mile 3 did not disappoint. It was more like a wall and your momentum only carried a few feet before laboriously marching upward.

Last year's champion was forty-one year old Jean Christophe Arcaz of Bethesda, MD. His time of 80:49, while very solid, was hardly scintillating enough for a field of nearly five hundred runners. This year's winner, Eric Lavigne of Ashburn, VA, blasted out as if he were determined to set a new course record. He just might have if he had a little pressure. In 2001, David Mead battled Chris Koehler the whole way, winning by five seconds in 73:41. Lavigne ran 73:46 but his challenger was former winner (2000 in 75:23) Brian Schmidt of Leesburg, VA. At 76:26, Schmidt was too far away to push. Besides, he was having his own problems with Richmond, VA's Josh Irwin (photo left) right behind him. Irwin ran 76:42, earning a $100 gift certificate and a sweatshirt. Schmidt earned $150 and Lavigne $250.

Through the middle miles, many of the runners grouped together. Misery loves company. The road is long with many a winding turn. There were scads of course marshals and, I got to tell you, they were very enthusiastic. They were generous with water and Gatorade though I really wanted thicker shoes. A lot of the miles were on a dirt and gravel road. The road was not slippery but as the hills both up and down were steep, it was challenging to look up lest one would step on a good-sized chunk of gravel.

We had been warned that miles nine and ten were downhill and that the following two would ascend. So, we treaded cautiously as we left the roads, saving energy for the climb. Those miles were all up but the slope was gentle and actually a relief after dodging back and forth on the crown on the dirt road. The last mile was mostly flat. Best of all it was the last mile.

For the women, as with the men, the top three times stood apart from the field. The fast times seem to come every other year. In 2000, Jennifer Gaoung won in 92:33. In 2001, Sharon Servidio was magnificent with 82:04. Last year Jessica Webb finished in 91:47. This year's winner, Cathy Pugsley of Sterling, VA, was always in sight but never seriously challenged. Her time was 86:19. Kristin Eddy of Reston, VA (photo left) rode the trails about two hundred meters back, keeping the chase interesting. She finished in 87:09. Helen Beven of Kensington, MD was third in 88:59.

The top master's woman was Suzanne Scoggin (40) of Reston, VA in 1:39:51. She had won the 35-39 division last year in 1:33:52. For the men, Paul Okerberg (45) was fourth overall in 79:34.

It seems speed is for the young people and distance is for the old folks. More than half of top forty men were at least forty years old. Fifth and sixth for the men were both age group winners, Brad Rippey (37) of Bunker Hill, VA in 1:21:31 and David Cascio (41) of Reston, VA in 1:22:06. Bruce Halpin of Ashburn, VA has run the last four years; in 2000 he finished second in his age group to Joseph Maguire but only a split second ahead of third. Happy to age up in 2001, he was buzz sawed by Steven Ward who still keeps his pace less than six minutes a mile. In 2002, no Ward so Halpin stepped up to the winner's circle. This year his nemesis is Okerberg.

In the 5K, Dan Maffey (50, photo left) of Olney, MD surrounded himself with teenagers. Even starting twenty-two seconds late he held off all but one of them, finishing in a topnotch time of 17:59. Joe Hanlon of Winchester, VA was the teenager that he could not catch. Hanlon ran 17:27. Of the next eight runners only twenty-one year old Scott Ruplinger was more than seventeen. Of the top twenty-six runners only two more were masters. Mark Meyers of Leesburg, VA edged Neil Riemenschneider of Winchester, VA for the 45-49 division win. Riemenschneider, at 49, cannot be all too happy about the sudden appearance of Maffey in his, soon to be, new division.

For the women, it was much the same with youth dominating. Four of the top twenty-eight finishers were masters. In this case, all in separate divisions. Barbara Leard of Sterling, VA won the 55-59 just ahead of Thea Cox, also of Sterling, VA crossed winning the 50-54 division. They were just fourteen seconds apart, though both started late as did Barbara Notar of Leesburg, VA, winning the 40-44 division. All of them won their divisions by huge margins. Ruth Riemenschneider (46, photo left) also would have won her division by a large margin. Instead, she was content to allow three Ashburn, VA women to duke it out while she garnered second overall and $150 in gift certificates.

Twenty-seven runners competed in the Clydesdale/Athena divisions. For the men the weight to meet was 200 pounds. For the women, it was 145. I know how tough it is to race with a pound or two over my best weight. Lindsey Fitzgerald of Reston, VA was first woman. Masters runner Roy Castor of Sterling, VA was 35th overall and first for the Clydesdales in 1:32:37.

So, after we collapsed into the chairs at the finish line and prepared to remove our chips, food came to mind. The water was wisely sitting on the tables right in the chip corral. As we dropped our chips in the basket, we got a pleasant surprise: finishers' medals. Quickly, okay slowly, we walked up the road to the food pavilion. We were first greeted by the largest bunch of bananas this side of the border. Too bad they were all greener than grass. Not to worry, we lunged past them and grabbed up apples and large muffins and slices of hot pizza. There was plenty of water and Gatorade and thankfully a large area to sit down.

The awards ceremony took a long time. No, not because of problems; it was the reverse. With two races, five-year age groups, and weight class awards, a whole lot of people went home with an addition to their trophy collection. The random prizes were substantial as well, including a weekend stay at a resort hotel and an exercise bike.

The Loudoun Road Runners Club hosted the race and many sports minded sponsors joined in. There was an expo inside and free massages available outside.

The Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter has been operating since 1984 and provides crisis intervention, support, and advocacy for women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This non-profit organization has a 15-bed shelter. It provides a wide range of services for more than 1500 persons annually.

Next year's race is scheduled for September 26. Mark your calendars and training schedules now!

Half Marathon Award Winners

MALE OVERALL
    1    11 Eric Lavigne            27 Ashburn VA         1:13:47 X 
    2    63 Brian Schmidt           35 Leesburg VA        1:16:26 X 
    3   589 Josh Irwin              26 Richmond VA        1:16:42 X 
FEMALE OVERALL
    1   655 Cathy Pugsley           34 Sterling VA        1:26:19 X 
    2   764 Kristin Eddy            32 Reston VA          1:27:09 X 
    3   242 Helen Beven             37 Kensington MD      1:28:59 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 19
    1   373 Sam Parks               18 Leesburg VA        1:34:21 X 
    2   366 Adam Hernandez          16 Leesburg VA        1:34:22 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 19
    1   782 Morgan Garihan          15 Marshall VA        2:57:04 X 
    2   113 Grace Dovan             16 Hume VA            2:57:04 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   766 Chris Brindley          21 Sterling VA        1:31:35 X 
    2   237 Mike Madowitz           23 Washington DC      2:07:40 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   618 Jessica Torbeck         23 Sterling VA        1:48:11 X 
    2   238 Ashley Langer           23 Washington DC      1:49:47 X 
    3   784 Erin Kelly              23 Burke VA           1:58:15 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   324 Bobby Grohs             29 Chevy Chase MD     1:22:26 X 
    2   654 James Neufer            27 Stephens City VA   1:23:47 X 
    3   628 Michael Colucci         29 Fairfax VA         1:29:20 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   763 Elisa Hillery           25 Herndon VA         1:42:18 X 
    2   554 Allison Cook            27 Arlington VA       1:43:57 X 
    3    49 Gabriella Uza           27 Germantown MD      1:45:03 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   585 Robert Osterried        31 Falls Church VA    1:24:56 X 
    2   529 Scott Jaquette          33 Oakton VA          1:25:19 X 
    3   664 Lan Bergin              31 Washington DC      1:28:46 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   734 Meredith Valmon         34 Rockville MD       1:32:16 X 
    2   557 Jeanette Dumbrell       34 Falls Church VA    1:39:56 X 
    3   236 Christine Taylor        33 Leesburg VA        1:43:54 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   653 Brad Rippey             37 Bunker Hill WV     1:21:31 X 
    2   661 Gary Grilliot           39 Reston VA          1:24:04 X 
    3   127 Bruce Nibbelink         37 Leesburg VA        1:28:13 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   735 Monica Grillo           39 Arlington VA       1:32:14 X 
    2   741 Elizabeth Feloman       36 Chevy Chase MD     1:32:34 X 
    3   593 Martha Cammack          36 Leesburg VA        1:40:52 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   119 David Cascio            41 Reston VA          1:22:06 X 
    2   293 Joseph Mcguire          43 Burke VA           1:23:12 X 
    3   407 Gregory West            41 Winchester VA      1:25:23 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   503 Suzanne Hunt Scoggin    40 Reston VA          1:39:51 X 
    2   464 Ann Maccormac           40 Leesburg VA        1:49:40 X 
    3   261 Alice Maffey            43 Burke VA           1:49:46 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   795 Paul Okerberg           45 Leesburg VA        1:19:34 X 
    2   723 Bruce Halpin            47 Ashburn VA         1:26:25 X 
    3   726 Steven Dunn             48 Washington DC      1:28:50 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   150 Kathy Brown             47 Haymarket VA       1:47:10 X 
    2   382 Joyce Adams             49 Halifax VA         1:51:38 X 
    3   161 Carole Roeder           46 Ashburn VA         1:52:21 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   415 Richard Morgan          51 Silver Spring MD   1:27:43 X 
    2   484 Timothy Morgan          52 Damascus MD        1:32:07 X 
    3   525 James Moreland          51 Gaithersburg MD    1:35:43 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   295 Mary Leigh Mcdaniel     50 Marshall VA        2:01:47 X 
    2   134 Denise Rechter          50 Herndon VA         2:05:39 X 
    3   118 Linda Pretty            52 Leesburg VA        2:11:43 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1   317 Robert Starkey          57 Leesburg VA        1:37:30 X 
    2   383 Norm Sandstrom          57 Leesburg VA        1:39:58 X 
    3   697 James Hozik             58 Great Falls VA     1:44:51 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1   454 Denise Mansheim         55 Reston VA          2:10:18 X 
    2    27 Janet Adams-Laird       59 Springfield VA     2:16:21 X 
    3   507 Pam Gardiner            57 Reston VA          2:28:56 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   197 Benito Vazquez          64 Laurel MD          1:48:07 X 
    2   774 Talbot Mack             63 Middleburg VA      1:50:31 X 
    3   686 Kenny Brumback          63 Great Falls VA     1:51:45 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   372 Brenda Murray           64 Chevy Chase MD     2:14:58 X 
    2    31 Paula Compton           60 Ashburn VA         2:28:52 X 
MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1   329 Hank Hatch              68 Vienna VA          1:56:28 X 
    2    40 Alan Rider              67 Reston VA          1:58:09 X 
    3   719 Alvin Marcy             68 Haymarket VA       2:05:56 X 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 99
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 99
ATHENA 
    1   660 Lindsey Fitzgerald      28 Reston VA          2:00:48 X 
    2   224 Jen Lewicki             31 Reston VA          2:09:43 X 
    3   747 Lesley Green            33 Ashburn VA         2:18:14 V 
CLYDESDALE 
    1   671 Roy Castor              44 Sterling VA        1:32:35 X 
    2   433 Michael Burns           38 Mechanicsburg PA   1:38:56 X 
    3   367 Warren Frick            42 Ashburn VA         1:40:30 X 

5K Award Winners

MALE OVERALL
    1   682 Joe Hanlon              18 Winchester VA      17:27 V 
    2   533 Dan Maffey              50 Olney MD           17:59 V 
    3   647 Sean Bernett            17 Leesburg VA        18:06 V 
FEMALE OVERALL
    1   620 Diana Van Vleet         15 Fairfax VA         20:30 V 
    2   705 Ruth Riemenschneider    46 Winchester VA      22:12 V 
    3   568 Deanna Conklin          37 Leesburg VA        22:28 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 14
    1   624 Dominick Kroupa         14 Leesburg VA          19:21 V 
    2   699 James Mallon            14 Leesburg VA          19:29 V 
    3   336 David Parker            14 Philomont VA         20:36 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 14
    1   209 Chelsea Bradley         14 Leesburg VA          23:03 V 
    2   469 Kate Schisler           14 Paeonian Spring VA   25:55 V 
    3   518 Sarah Spicer            14 Purcellville VA      25:56 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  15 - 19
    1   690 Matthew Beksel          17 Purcellville VA      18:52 V 
    2   712 Edward Chamberlin       16 Waterford VA         18:52 V 
    3   809 Ryan Burkle             17 Leesburg VA          18:54 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  15 - 19
    1   461 Grete Lenz              16 Waterford VA         23:07 V 
    2   581 Meghan Mcwilliams       15 Purcellville VA      23:37 V 
    3   483 Jessica Burke           16 Purcellville VA      23:38 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   751 Scott Ruplinger         21 Washington DC        19:27 V 
    2   375 Mason Schuler           22 Reston VA            25:05 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   376 Laura Bernhardt         23 Reston VA            24:27 V 
    2    34 Tracey Reed             24 Stafford VA          26:02 V 
    3   752 Saira Haider            21 Washington DC        29:49 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   537 Jon Handel              26 Arlington VA         23:36 V 
    2   531 Richard Heironimus      27 Fairfax VA           24:42 V 
    3   594 Chad Gauthier           28 Harpers Ferry WV     27:26 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   539 Sara Handel             25 Arlington VA         25:50 V 
    2   532 Rebecca Heironimus      26 Fairfax VA           29:34 V 
    3    35 Sherry Hutchinson       28 Stafford VA          31:57 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   772 Richard Fausey          34 District Hgts MD     19:31 V 
    2   609 Patrick Mcphail         33 Leesburg VA          21:04 V 
    3   455 Steven Miller           33 Lovettsville VA      21:11 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   622 Sandra Erbaugh          34 Sterling VA          23:19 V 
    2   143 Jenevieve Lenz          30 Reston VA            25:43 V 
    3   459 Gina Cassella           31 Leesburg VA          25:51 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   548 William Daniel          38 Woodbridge VA        21:20 V 
    2   567 David Thomas            36 Leesburg VA          21:50 V 
    3   365 Jerry Hertel            35 Leesburg VA          23:46 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   549 Christy Martinez        36 Alexandria VA        22:52 V 
    2   337 Barbara Lawrence        38 Leesburg VA          23:21 V 
    3   640 Jill Montaquila         36 Harpers Ferry VA     23:23 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   399 Ray Demarco             42 Leesburg VA          25:06 V 
    2   508 Anders Sandstrom        42 Silver Spring MD     26:36 V 
    3   363 Greg Kimball            44 Ashburn VA           27:29 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   453 Barbara Notar           43 Leesburg VA          22:47 V 
    2   773 Kathleen Armstrong      41 Ashburn VA           26:34 V 
    3   603 Jennifer Bergen         44 Lincoln VA           26:48 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   738 Mark Meyers             45 Leesburg VA          18:57 V 
    2   704 Neal Riemenschneider    49 Winchester VA        19:35 V 
    3   619 David Van Vleet         45 Fairfax VA           23:16 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   471 Debbie Settle           48 Ashburn VA           27:11 V 
    2   101 Kathy Null              47 Ashburn VA           27:38 V 
    3   102 Karen Bettencourt       46 Ashburn VA           28:01 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   629 Kevin Cason             50 Chantilly VA         22:01 V 
    2   788 Bill Osuch              50 Kearneysville WV     22:31 V 
    3   509 Geoffrey Gage           54 Reston VA            24:15 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   786 Thea Cox                52 Sterling VA          23:55 V 
    2   124 Joy Saari               50 Centreville VA       29:12 V 
    3   768 Judy Lim-Sharpe         52 Silver Spring MD     29:16 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1   695 Doyle Talkington        56 Dulles VA            23:25 V 
    2   587 John Poland             56 Leesburg VA          27:11 V 
    3   753 Christopher Young       58 Middleburg VA        27:36 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1   386 Barbara Leard           56 Sterling VA          23:40 V 
    2   639 Helene Brierley         58 Leesburg VA          31:30 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   402 Bob Eldridge            63 Reston VA            23:58 V 
    2    74 Glenn Luttrell          60 Stephens City VA     28:32 V 
    3   631 Joseph Milligan         62 Sterling VA          35:55 V 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 99
    1   253 Margaret Chamberlin     60 Chevy Chase MD       29:23 V 
MALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 99
    1   739 Justin Meyers           74 Leesburg VA          20:53 V 
    2   691 Philip Hager            66 Falls Church VA      24:34 V 
    3   815 Terence Mccarthy        68 Leesburg VA          25:41 X 

See complete results of the LAWS Run for the Shelter Half Marathon and 5K.

Take a look at the Photo Gallery.