Annual Run Raises Money for YMCA, Local Charities

by Charity Corkey

Sunday, August 10, 2008

As the world's top runners are preparing to compete in this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, more than 1,500 local runners took to the streets of downtown Leesburg early Sunday morning to support the Loudoun YMCA and local charities.

This year is the 20th year for the YMCA to host the 10K and 20K run. The races began promptly at 7:30 a.m. at Market Station, following a performance of the national anthem by Eric Makowsky of Washington, D.C., one of the runners.

Just 30 minutes later, Silver Spring resident Steven Crane dashed across the finish line of the 10K race with a time of 30 minutes and 57 seconds. Shortly thereafter, Katie Reed from Arlington took first place for the women with 35 minutes and 44 seconds. Both Crane and Reed beat last year's respective winning times of 31:33 for the men and 36:43 for the women.

Winning the 20K was Michael Wardian, 34, of Arlington with 1:06:28, followed two minutes later by D.J. Palmer, 22, of Chantilly, who had a time of 1:08:28.

George Ingham, 23, and Bert Jacoby, 24, the tied winners of the 20K's 20 to 34 age division with a time of 1:10:31, were excited to represent a group from Williamsburg that called themselves Team Blitz.

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10K and 20K Run

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The YMCA will donate $10,000 of the race's proceeds to local charities. (Chris Spielmann / Charity Corkey)

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The first runners begin to hit the finish line for the YMCA's 10K race. (Charity Corkey)

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George Ingham, left, and Bert Jacoby proudly wear their cowbells. The friends ran the 20K and tied for first place in the men's 20 to 34 age division. (Charity Corkey)

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Course map for the 10K and 20K run in Leesburg on Sunday to benefit the Loudoun YMCA. (Charity Corkey)

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"We worked together the whole way," Ingham said.

The two friends ran a pretty conservative first 15K, according to Jacoby, but picked up the pace for the last 5K of the race. They both agreed that they would like to participate again next year.

Instead of the winners sporting gold, silver and bronze medals a la the Olympics, they were presented with shiny white cowbells that hung around their necks from ribbons.

For a couple of hours during and after the races, participants and their families mulled around a variety of vendors including an ice cream truck from this year's title sponsor, Harris Teeter, and the YMCA moon bounce. Inova Blood Donor Services was also present and reported that 14 people donated blood, including runners.

From the registration fees that the runners paid to participate, the YMCA will be able to donate $10,000 toward local charities, said Amy Grabowski, administrative service director of Loudoun County's YMCA. Four different groups will receive $2,500 each: Every Citizen Has Opportunities, Loudoun Interfaith Relief, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing and Loudoun Adult Day Center.

For more pictures and a complete list winners by each age division, visit this site. Or you can share your photos with other LoudounExtra.com readers by sending them to loudounextra@wpni.com.

Tagged: fundraiser, Leesburg, YMCA

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