News - RunWashington

Do You Ever Lose The Passion?

Published May 30, 2012 at 4:28PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:29AM

Karen celebrates winning her age group at the 1999 Annapolis 10 Miler.

To those who knew Karen Erb (April 11, 1951 – May 25, 2012) knew of her passion for running while being competitive it was always hidden behind the smile that she wore while she ran. It was through the heat and humidity at the Annapolis 10-Mile Run that she even smiled when climbing the bridge after the four mile mark. I had the rare opportunity on many occasions to be the one to capture her moments along the course. I know that each time she tried to slip by but I made sure that I got my shot. To this day there is one picture that I only shared with her because she made a face which she thought that I could not get and I did. I did promise her that as long as I never got upset I would not send it to the newspaper. I can state that the picture remains in my files.

10th Cascades Firechase 10K

By James Moreland

Published May 26, 2012 at 4:31PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:30AM

Fun run start .

For the last nine years this special race that starts underneath the ladders of two fire trucks in Sterling, has acted like the official start of the summer season. Raced on Memorial Day weekend the region usually blasts out a ninety degree day to test the runners. The course is a two loop jaunt around the Community Center. After cresting the first long hill at the end of the second mile runners get to run under an uncapped fire hydrant. A quick look at the times will tell you that the first real scorcher of 2012 took its toll on the nearly 500 10K finishers.

Jacoby and Chapman Win Marine Corps Historic Half

By Brenda Barrera

Published May 20, 2012 at 4:41PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:31AM

There was much to celebrate at this year’s fifth anniversary of the Marine Corps Marathon Historic Half held in Fredericksburg, VA on May 20, 2012. The event has grown every year and had close to 6,000 finishers, compared to 3,800 from the inaugural 2008 event. For starters, it was a commanding victory for hometown favorite Bert Jacoby who came to the starting line with one goal: to win. And that he did in 1:11:33, almost three minutes ahead of defending champion Wyatt Boyd, from Washington, DC, who finished in 1:14:27. Brandon Dick, 25, from Fredericksburg took the final podium spot with his 1:15:36 finish.

What a far cry from Jacoby’s 2011 race experience when he was the very last person to cross the start line and he raised money for charity for each person he passed.

Megerssa and Rice Win 33rd annual NCB Capitol Classic 10K

By Brenda Barrera

Published May 20, 2012 at 4:37PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:36AM

What is a classic race? It is an event that is judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding and the NCB Capital Hill Classic 10K is just that – a quality event with a long tradition that dates back 33 years with proceeds benefiting the Capitol Hill Cluster, a public school with three campuses.

Ideal weather conditions greeted runners on Sunday as the number of participants increased from last year with 2,149 runners finishing the 10K.

Castille and Kimbrough Take Crowns at USA Track & Field Masters 8K Championship in Williamsburg

By Brenda Barrera

Published May 19, 2012 at 4:49PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:36AM

“Yup, I’m 40,” the message on overall champion Kevin Castille’s shirt said it all. It was an impressive day for the 40 and older crowd at the Run for the Dream 8K in Williamsburg VA which also served as the USA Track & Field Masters 8K Championships. A total of 1,536 runners completed the 8K race on the rolling course on the historical Colonial Williamsburg and College of Williams & Mary. And 143 national-class runners competed in the separately scored Masters Championship division.

Having just turned 40 this past March, Castille is having an exceptional year. The Louisiana-native now residing in Kentucky is tearing up the roads and also the track. He captured the masters crown at the Carlsbad 5000 (14:57), set a U.S. Masters 10K record at the Stanford University Invitational (28:57) and set a new course record at today’s race with his 24:19 finish.

Fast Times at the Queens Lake 5K

By Rick Platt

Published May 12, 2012 at 4:53PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:36AM

Bruton High School track and cross country coach and former Queens Lake 5K Run race director Mark Tompkins, 36, of Williamsburg was the overall winner of the 18th annual Queens Lake 5K Run, Saturday morning at New Quarter Park in Williamsburg, under ideal weather conditions (cool, race-time temperatures in the 50s, sunny, and little wind). Tompkins ran a winning time of 16:35, 16 seconds faster than his runner-up time from 2011.

Women’s winner Jennifer Quarles, 40, of Williamsburg, a 6-time Colonial Road Runners Grand Prix champion, ran her fastest time as a Masters runner, winning in 18:59.

17th Annual Pike’s Peek 10K Has Fast Times Running through Rockville

By Steve Nearman

Published April 29, 2012 at 4:57PM | Updated September 16, 2013 at 11:37AM

The Kenyans came from Chapel Hill, NC and from Royersford, PA. The Ethiopians came from the Bronx and Washington, DC. They all came in pursuit of a $1,000 first prize, not bad for running a 10-kilometer race not far from their home bases.

Credit the Kenyans from Ben Kurgat’s Chapel Hill camp with sweeping the overall win, but the Ethiopians sure showed depth at the 17^th Kaiser Permanente Pike’s Peek 10K today in Rockville.

Claire Hallissey Among British Women Seeking Final Olympic Berth

By David Monti

Published April 20, 2012 at 12:08PM | Updated September 17, 2013 at 2:30PM

By David Monti

LONDON (19-Apr)–Only one spot remains on the British team for a woman to run this summer’s Olympic Marathon here, yet five still hope to claim it. Four of them–Claire Hallissey, Liz Yelling, Louise Damen and Freya Murray–will compete in Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon, while the fifth, Jo Pavey, will watch on television. All will be hoping for the best.

New Men’s Record in 40th Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile

By Dickson Mercer

Published April 1, 2012 at 12:17PM | Updated September 17, 2013 at 2:30PM

Main field gets underway.

A year after Frank Shorter took gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics and ignited the first running boom, fewer than 200 people showed up on a muggy day for the inaugural Cherry Blossom Invitational Run. Billed as a final tune-up for the Boston Marathon, the founders believed 10 miles was the perfect distance. Ten miles. It was long enough to provide an adequate test. It was not, however, long enough to [button-red url=”http://www.cherryblossom.org/aboutus/results.php” target=”_self” position=”left”] Results [/button-red]leave runners feeling “too pooped out,” according to the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run’s 40th anniversary race program.

20th Van Metre 5 Mile Run Race Report

By James Moreland

Published March 10, 2012 at 12:48PM | Updated September 17, 2013 at 2:31PM

In its 20^th year this popular 5 mile race upgraded yet again. First, they certified the course (over the years the race has started from a quite a few different sides of the course). The race has already been famous for its prolific random awards. This year the race expanded to five year age groups to make the age challenge even more fair. The food has always been fun with dozens of doughnuts and coffee to go along with the healthier apples and bananas. This year there were scores of commemorative cupcakes with eatable logos. Comparing the different types for taste was an enviable task.

Last year David Nightingale battled Karl Dusen for the title winning in 23:56. Dusen’s 24:03 was solidly ahead of third place Gurmessa Megressa’s 24:25. Last year the event was a week after the mammoth St. Patrick’s Day 8K, which had been won by Demesse Tefera. Tefera started but dropped last year. This year Tefera battled New York’s Teklu Deneke, pulling away in the final sixty meter down hill charge to finish in 24:55. Dusen finished third this year in 25:53, all alone with fourth place Charlie Ban arriving nearly two minutes later. The certified course was about 250 feet longer than last year but that hardly explains the slower times. The sunny day was cool with a more than just pleasant breeze. The top reason may be that tomorrow will be national class competition at the massive (7500 person) St. Patrick’s Day 8K. Tefera will be there to defend his title.