All spring there has been speculation in our local running community that Alan Webb, our country's most famous miler, and his wife Julia, were moving to Charlottesville to train. Well, all of the speculation is over as I talked to the Webb’s in person yesterday and they confirmed that they really are moving to town! Alan, who, back in 2001, was the first high schooler to break 4 minutes since LBJ was in office, and his wife, who is an accomplished runner herself, will be moving to town as early as July to train in what many feel is one of the best running environments in the country. Webb, who was a 2004 Olympian, is looking to return to the form that had him at the top of the world rankings in 2007 and he has his sights set on another trip to the Games in 2012. Please join me in welcoming our new running neighbors!
A big round of applause to Terri Higgins and Jay Wildermann on 10 wonderful years of hosting and directing The Bright Stars 5K, one of the best organized races in Charlottesville. For the past decade this duo has treated over 1,500 runners of all ages and abilities to a special fun run that has ultimately benefitted one of our area’s most beloved not-for-profit school family programs. Sadly, this May’s 10 edition of this special race was its last as Higgins and Wildermann have retired the event. We thank them for the many hours of unselfish volunteerism in treating so many of us to a very special event. Our area running calendar won’t look the same without this wonderful fundraiser race!
Here are a few pre-race tips for those donning a weekend race number in the coming weeks:
- Never try anything new on race day. Follow your normal Saturday regimen…and, as a matter of fact, stick to your normal routine the day before too!
- Line up in your “zip code”. In other words, if you plan on running 9 minute pace for the race you have no business lining up in the front with the 5 and 6 minute folks. Break this rule and you will most surely end up going out way too quickly for the first mile and suffering greatly over the last third of the race!
- And to piggy back off of that, always make sure to run your first half mile slower than your targeted goal pace. So, let’s take that 9 minute/mile person. Their first half mile should be in the 4:35-4:45 range.
- Ease up your breathing on the ascents and really lean into and fly down the descents!
And speaking of racing, The Men’s Four Miler will be accepting race day registration on Father’s Day (tomorrow) from 6:15-7:15am at Scott Stadium. Over 400 guys of all ages and abilities, including walkers, have already signed up for this special event.
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