Charlie Ban - RunWashington

Teaching track at the Chantilly Youth Association

Published August 10, 2014 at 11:00AM | Updated May 10, 2019 at 12:26PM

Participants get fired up at a CYA track meet. Photo: Ed Lull

Lugging relay batons larger than their arms, three-year-olds careened around a set of cones in the high jump area at Chantilly High School’s track, their balance akimbo. Some hopped over baby hurdles, with one tiny girl dragging one along as she ran away, like a car that caught a branch underneath.

After “playing track” for a while at the Chantilly Youth Association track club, the expectation is that kids will learn the variety of events and develop some skills. But that’s as far as the expectations go.

News

In it to Tie it

By Charlie Ban

Published July 28, 2014 at 11:44AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 4:48PM

Alana Miller (left) and Ashley Vaughan near the finish line of the 2013 Napa Marathon. Photo: MarathonFoto

Late into the Napa Valley Marathon, Alana Miller was hurting. She typically starts out strong, but fades after 15 miles. Beside her, Ashley Vaughan delivered a steady stream of consciousness that kept her friend focused on the miles ahead.

“She came up with these ridiculous stories to tell me,” Miller said, “as if I don’t know everything about every moment of her life already.”

News

Temesgen sets Rockville Twilighter record

By Charlie Ban

Published July 22, 2014 at 10:39PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 4:48PM

John Sides leads Zanny Ludtke in the Rockville Twilighter 8k. Photo: Jim Rich

Etaferhu Temesgen slashed the Rockville Twilighter 8k record to win in 26:33 over Susanna Sullivan, whose 26:43 nearly matched the prior 26:40 record.

[button-red url=”http://www.zippyraceresults.com/search.php?ID=4116http://” target=”_self” position=”left”] 8k Results [/button-red]”She’s been doing her training in Rock Creek Park the last three months,” said Ayele Bleed, her manager. “She runs twice a day seven times a week and we’re working on her kilometer times.”

News

Straight Outta NOVA

By Charlie Ban

Published July 13, 2014 at 11:32PM | Updated August 10, 2015 at 12:24PM

Anna Corrigan (left) and Bonnie Axman contend during the first few miles of the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon. Photo: MarathonFoto

They started out six years and a few miles apart in Burke. In June 2014, they wound up almost 2,300 miles away, neck and neck at the Rock n’ Roll San Diego Marathon.

When Anna Corrigan and Bonnie Axman were cruising through the first miles, they had no idea that they were re-enacting battles between their rival high schools’ cross country teams — the Lake Braddock Bruins and Robinson Rams, respectively. They weren’t trying to break each other, though Corrigan had the lungs and Axman had the muscles to do so.

News

Susanna Sullivan is Making Plans

By Charlie Ban

Published July 13, 2014 at 11:26PM | Updated December 3, 2019 at 1:23AM

Over five weeks this spring, Susanna Sullivan ran four races.

A nation-leading 26:51 at the St. Patrick’s Day 8k. A week later, second at Virginia Beach’s Shamrock Half Marathon in 1:14:22. After a break, second at the Collegiate Running Association championships at Richmond’s Monument Avenue 10k with a 33:42, a pace she nearly matched eight days later en route to a 54:31 finish at the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, fourth place in the U.S. 10 mile championship race.

News

Ted Last

By Charlie Ban

Published July 13, 2014 at 10:35PM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 4:49PM

Ted Hobart at the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon. Photo: MarthonFoto

The bananas and bagels are almost gone and the band, if there is one, is wrapping things up. The finish line is about to come down, but here comes Ted Hobart.

The native Arlingtonian’s size would throw off most people if they guessed his sport — he was a football player at Washington-Lee High School — but with more finishes than most in the running-crazed D.C. area, Hobart is undoubtedly a marathoner. He hit number 66 in early June at the Deadwood Michelson Trail Marathon in South Dakota and 67 at the Run4Troops marathon in Iowa four weeks later. He typically runs under the name George.

News

The hill remains the same

By Charlie Ban

Published June 30, 2014 at 9:37AM | Updated June 25, 2015 at 4:49PM

The opening decline at the Freedom Four. Photo: Brian W. Knight/ Swim Bike Run Photography

Red, white and blue replaced head-to-toe green. Long sleeves made way for tank tops and sports bras. The hill, however, was the same as everyone remembered it.

The Freedom Four set up shop at the top of Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, with the same out-and-back course as the St. Patrick’s Day-themed Four Courts Four Miler. That meant nearly a mile that runners spent either trying to hold back down a hill or take what the course gave them, and then same distance suffering back up, this time with the added heat and humidity that came with late June in Northern Virginia.

News

Celebrate Running: Jay Wind’s Van

By Charlie Ban

Published June 19, 2014 at 8:52AM

Photo: Matthew Lehner

If you’re hoping to catch some looks in Georgetown, hop behind the wheel of race organizer Jay Wind’s maroon Ford Aerostar XLT van. I did in 2011, for a spin around M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. It handled well enough, but what mattered was inside. Enough equipment to manage a road race, or have a lot of fun on the lam:

News

West Springfield girls’ repeat DMR championship highlights postseason

By Charlie Ban

Published June 16, 2014 at 1:59PM | Updated June 16, 2014 at 2:16PM

Andrew Goldman (right) leads the boys 6A 3200 meter at the state meet. He went on to win in 9:12.58. From right to left- Alex Corbett (Lake Braddock, 2nd in 9:15.14), Ryan McGorty (Chantilly, fifth in 9:26.74) Matt Calem (James Madison, third in 9:23.03) and Kevin Monogue (Lake Braddock, sixth in 9:27.15) Photo: Ed Lull

On back-to-back weekends, local high school distance runners performed well at Virginia’s state meets and the national outdoor championships.

The top performance at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. June 13-15 came from West Springfield’s distance medley relay team, which ran 11:39.45 to win thanks to performances by Katie Kennedy, Michelle Lipka, Reagan Bustamante and Caroline Alcorta, who lowered their 11:51.45. Lake Braddock was third at 11:52:17. The Spartans were also third in the 4×800 at 8:58.32, and Poolesville was 27th in 9:31.67. In the girls 4xmile, Lake Braddock finished 23rd in 21:33.87.

News

Best of Washington Running 2014

By Charlie Ban

Published June 16, 2014 at 12:12AM | Updated June 30, 2014 at 10:54AM

Photo: Brian W. Knight/Swim Bike Run Photography

Finding out the best aspects of the Washington running scene is harder than one would expect. Generally, the top few vote-getters in each category separated themselves from the rest of the field, but there were a few blowouts. Most voters agreed that the C&O Canal Towpath was the best natural surface trail, the Jingle All the Way 8k was the top race in the winter (though it’s technically before the solstice). Cherry Blossom wins top spring race and, like it was ever a question, the Marine Corps Marathon dominated the fall races.

Thank you to everyone who nominated their favorites and then voted for them. I hope that when out-of-towners voted, and I know several did, that they got a good look at what we have to offer in Washington and suburban Maryland and Virginia. I don’t think I speak out of turn when I say it’s all pretty great.