The Race Comes to Leesburg

By Ryan Lytle

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The hot and humid Sunday morning hindered any new course records, but it did not stop people from coming out to the 21st Annual Harris Teeter/YMCA Loudoun County Leesburg 10K/20K.

The race featured both a 10K run and a 20K run, as well as a race for kids.

The event had fewer runners this year than in past years, with much of that due to the humid weather.

"We usually have around 1,500 runners," said Loudoun County YMCA Administrative Service Director Amy Grabowski. "That's always our goal, but the weather can affect those numbers."

There was a wide range of runners in the field, from those that used this event as training for marathons in the fall, to those that were running their very first race.

The money raised from this race each year is given to the Loudoun County YMCA to be used to provide parents with quality child care and to send children to YMCA summer camps.

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The Leesburg 10K/20K

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Runners step up to the line before the beginning of the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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Runners take off at the start of the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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Children line up the the First Annual Kids Run at the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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The Kids Run was full of children, strollers and parents during the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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Some runners had to play catch-up because of late arrival during the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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Gucmessa Megersse, 30, of Washington DC, was the overall men's winner for the 10K with a time of 31 minutes and 27 seconds. (Ryan Lytle)

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Last year's 10K champ Steven Crane had to settle for second place this year during the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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Alisa Harvey, 43, of Manassas, VA, was the fastest overall woman in the 10K with a time of 38 minutes and 50 seconds. (Ryan Lytle)

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Michael Wardian, 34, of Arlington, VA, was the fastest overall man in the 20K with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 9 seconds. (Ryan Lytle)

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Phobe Ko, 26, of Baltimore, MD, was the fastest overall woman in the 20K with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 33 seconds. (Ryan Lytle)

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Two runners reach for wet towels to cool off with during the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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A runner tries to cool herself off by covering her body with wet towels during the Leesburg 10K/20K race Sunday morning. (Ryan Lytle)

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"This money helps because we are able to offer kids quality programming at a very affordable price." Grabowski said. "But we also donate some of those proceeds to four other local charities."

These other charities include the Loudoun County Adult Day Center, Blue Ridge Speech and hearing, ECHO (Every Citizen has Opportunities) and Loudoun Interfaith Relief, Inc.

Besides the race, there was also a live band playing from the beginning of the race until the conclusion of the event. INOVA was also there for blood donations.

"Last year, surprisingly, we had 17 people that donated," Grabowski said. "We're hoping for that many or more this year."

Although the race's main goal was to raise money for the YMCA, the races were very competitive.

The overall top three winners of the 10K and 20K won a cash prize and something else out of the ordinary.

"The cow is the mascot for the race so we give the winners cow bells," Grabowski said.

Men's Overall 10K

1. Gucmessa Megersse, 30, from Washington D.C. with a time of 31 minutes and 27 seconds.

2. Steven Crane, 27, of Silver Spring, Md., with a time of 31 minutes and 57 seconds.

3. Benjamin Ingram, 32, of Baltimore, Md., with a time of 33 minutes and 14 seconds.

Women's Overall 10K

1. Alisa Harvey, 43, of Manassas, Va., with a time of 38 minutes and 50 seconds.

2. Mary Davidson, 36, of Bristow, Va., with a time of 39 minutes and 42 seconds.

3. Jenny Fitzgerald, 29, of Woodbridge, Va., with a time of 40 minutes and 28 seconds.

Men's Overall 20K

1. Michael Wardian, 34, of Arlington, Va., with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 9 seconds.

2. Bart Borghuis, 33, of Arlington, Va., with a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes and 14 seconds.

3. Chris Hague, 20, of Kensington, Md., with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 20 seconds.

Women's Overall 20K

1. Phobe Ko, 26, of Baltimore, Md., with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 33 seconds.

2. Meghan Ridgly, 30, of Baltimore, Md., with a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 7 seconds.

3. Melissa Rittenhouse, 33, of Harrisonburg, Va., with a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 36 seconds.

Check the Leesburg 10K/20K Web site for full results of the event.

Tagged: Leesburg, YMCA

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