10-Miler draws its biggest field yet

Whether running, watching, playing music or volunteering, anyone that’s involved with the Charlottesville 10-Miler will be a part of history this morning.
This will be the largest 10-Miler in the race’s 33-year history with more than 2,400 runners registered as of Friday night. That’s up from 2006 and 2007’s record of 2,300. Runners from 34 states will be represented in the race.
Saturday’s race will start at 7:45 a.m. when runners take off from UVa’s University Hall and wind through a big portion of town, including the Downtown Mall. Most of the front-runners should finish in just over 50 minutes back at University Hall.
Several streets along the route will be closed or partially closed to automobile traffic from around 7:45 to 9:45 a.m.
Vantage points
There are a number of good places to watch the 10-miler, but in three locations, spectators will get to see the runners at least two times. At the intersection of Rugby Road and University Avenue, runners will pass at the three and 8.5 mile marks. At the east end of the Mall, near the Pavilion, runners will pass twice around the five and seven mile marks.
At the intersection of Alderman and McCormick roads, there will be three passes at the one mile, 2.5 mile and nine mile marks. This is the race’s only viewing spot that will allow spectators three chances to see the pack. The lead male runners will race at around a five-minute mile pace.
Who to look for
The top female competitor is Dana Coons, wearing a No. 1. Coons is a UVa graduate who is set to participate in the U.S. Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials to be held on April 20 in Boston. Coons won the 10-miler in 2006.
Runners wearing No. 2 through No. 9 should all be competitive as well, with Musa Gwanzura (2), Rob Cook (3), Charlie Hurt (4), Mark Cucuzzella (5) and Taylor Smith (9) battling for the top men’s spot. Smith is a UVa senior who placed eighth at the ACC Outdoor Championships in the 10,000 meters.
Two other former female
champions will be in the mix, with 2007 champion Andrea Wright (No. 6) and runner-up Eliza O’Connell (No. 8), who finished just two seconds apart, will go toe-to-toe again. Nicola Ratcliffe, a four-time women’s champion, will don No.7.
There’s also the oldest racer, 82-year-old Wendell Golden, who will, appropriately, wear No. 82. The youngest runner, 11-year-old Dave Rubinow, will wear No. 2428.
Where’s the money going?
Proceeds for the 10-miler will go to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad. Madison House is organizing the nearly 400 volunteers.