The Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K and 2K Fun Walk was a huge success this Thanksgiving with the largest number of runners ever — a total of 2,650 people. There 400 more runners than last year. The race raised between $55,000 and $60,000 for Life With Cancer, Inova Health System's nonprofit program for cancer patients and their families.
"We had unusually warm weather. It was a wonderful day. But I have a lot of concerns about the safety, and it got really crowded," said race chairman Dominic DeVincenzo of Virginia Run.
He said the event lost its big sponsors this year — Carteret Mortgage and First Horizon Home Mortgage — due to the downturn in the housing market, but made it up with the number of racers participating.
"It was fun running with my family and being with 2,700 runners," said Mary Spicer, 23, of Clifton. The special ed teacher at Union Mill Elementary said 11 members of her family ran in the race.
MALE WINNERS: 1st place Bill Bartko, 15:29; 2nd place Eric Post, 15:38; 3rd place Eric Sorensen, 16:17; 4th place Mark Hogan, 16:29; 5th place Nate Martins, 16:55; 6th place Robert Jones, 16:59; 7th place Gregory Grosicki, 17:04; 8th place Jonathan Buckland, 17:18; 9th place Yahzid Zouaimia, 17:23; 10th place Ryan Donahue, 17:25.
FEMALE WINNERS: 1st place Jemissa Hess, 16:36; 2nd place Stephanie Bray, 18:24; 3rd place Erin Swain, 18:41; 4th place Amanda Pagon, 19:08; 5th place Kelly Swain, 19:20; 6th place Linda Foley, 19:24; 7th place Jennifer Chapman, 19:30; 8th place Huna Husain, 19:35; 9th place Chrissy Sane, 19:37; 10th place Allison Behrle, 19:49.