Twilight Runfest Breaks Record, Encourages Running

>

A record breaking 2,800 runners participated in the 25th Annual Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest on Saturday, July 17, 2010. 2,400 had preregistered then another 400 signed up on race day, perhaps because a slight breeze and clear skies enticed runners at the last minute. With a previous high of 2,300, the race through neighborhood streets and around the Montgomery College Rockville campus is obviously gaining in popularity.

Potomac River Running Store, a new shop in Rockville Town Square, has been credited with helping to increase the number of participants. The shop created a team and successfully promoted the event. Beyond selling running gear, the shop has developed into an area focal point for runners with training programs and seminars.

The race typically invites a number of athletes to participate in the event including last year’s award winners and other outstanding runners in the region. Here are the results for the men and women showing the best Rockville times:

Men
1 Abiyot Endale, Bronx NY 23:58 4:50 mile
2 Demesse Tefera, Washington DC 24:06 4:51 mile
3 Rod Koborsi, Washington DC 24:35 4:57 mile
4 Gurmessa Megerssa, Washington DC 24:54 5:01 mile
5 Ricky Flynn, Lynchburg VA 25:02 5:03 mile
6 Joey Wiegner, Rockville MD 25:04 5:03 mile

Women
1 Salome Kosgei, High Falls NY 27:11 5:29
2 Malika Mejdoub, Catonsville MD 27:12 5:29
3 Elena Orlova, Gaithersburg MD 28:17 5:42
4 Lucinda Smith, Germantown MD 29:20 5:55
5 Lisa Thomas, Alexandria VA 29:32 5:57
6 Pam Maldeis, Towson MD 29:34 5:57

26 Julie Sapper, Rockville MD 33:09 6:39

The start of the 8k race was delayed to make sure all the sensors were working so many took off to stretch and stay loose then had to line up again.

Although competitive runners are encouraged to participate and the winner was from the Bronx, NY, many of our local Rockville neighbors can boast personal accomplishments. Some of the runners first started because of the Runfest. The local event through our neighborhoods appeared to be a good way to get healthier. With obesity and middle-age weight gain, any program which puts a healthy option in our neighborhoods provides a real benefit.

In 1992 Peter Boice thought he should find a way to stay in shape. He saw the Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest and started to train during the spring as soon as the weather warmed. He’s run every year since. This year’s Runfest was his second event for the day because he also participated in an Annapolis Striders event in the afternoon. Peter Heister tried Pike’s Peek twice then added the Twilight Run this year. He walks during the day delivering our mail so an early morning running routine down Rockville Pike seemed like a natural progression. Whole families ran such as the Lynch family: mom, dad, teen sister and brother, who competed together. The youngest participant was 9-year-old, Garrett Parker who joined his dad Mark to complete the run and the oldest was 83 year old Nianxiang Xie.

My neighbor, Judith Scott, joined the Montgomery County Roadrunners Club in April. She’s been training and ran one other race this summer. The Club really has guided her and she recommends you join the right group for your ability and goals. Her daughter has made great improvements in the City Recreation Track program and now she is too.

Burt Hall, Recreation and Parks Director, emphasized safety at the forefront of this event. The course was closed to traffic, marshaled, and monitored. An emergency radio network was in place. Water and medical aid were located throughout. Four teams of two EMTs were on bikes, including volunteers from the Bethesda Chevy Chase station. A medical aid station was manned by 7 volunteers including nurses and a sports physician. Typically 8k races do not have extensive medical services but because of the heat extra precautions were taken.

The Rockville Rotary Twilight Runfest also has a wheelchair division and 1k fun run. Before and after live music creates a late summer night block party attracting up to 8,000 people eating, drinking and partying. The Lloyd Doppler Effect rocked the crowd packing the streets. This year they decided to keep the party going and not interrupt to announce the awards and prizes. All for a good cause since a portion of the proceeds benefits the Rockville Recreation Fund.

Here’s a video of all the runners crossing the starting line:

Share and enjoy:

Hide Sites