December is a surprisingly busy month, with the final two races in the fall race series, four fun runs (and a fifth on New Year's Day), and club elections at our December meeting.  And thanks to Jeff Fedorko's hard work, many of the 2025 LRRC Spring/Summer Race Series are already scheduled and available for signup.

LRRC Fall Race Series

Our fall race series is back for a second year.  We added a sixth race, Annual I am Woman 5K (yes, there isn't an alternate men's only race).  The other races remain (The 10 Miler/4+ Miler, CASA Superhero Run, Lynchburg Turkey Trot, Bedford Christmas Classic, and Deck the Heels 5K).  Details of the race series can be found here. https://runsignup.com/w/LynchburgRoadRunnersClub/Page/FallRaceSeries

CASA Superhero 5K

Nearly 300 runners and 100 walkers enjoyed a nice fall morning running in the 10th Annual CASA superheroes run prior to countless children running a mile with villains and superheroes. Andrew Wilds captured the event in photographs with a sampling below. 

For his entire collection: https://www.lynchburgsuperherorun.com/Race/Photos/VA/Lynchburg/LynchburgSuperHeroRun

Lynchburg Turkey Trot

Nearly 4,000 runners and walkers sign up for the 36th(?)* Annual Lynchburg Turkey Trot and 2,600 ignored the ominous weather forecast (Trust George!?) and showed up.  Thankfully the bad weather was gone by race time.

While many were just enjoying their run or walk, a significant number competed and pushed themselves on the deceptively hilly course.  Zach Knight returned to his home town and crossed first in front of local, Michael Craig, and Brewster, NY resident Jefferson Ross.  In the women's division, Pittsburgh-ian Annabel Johnson won crossing before Kathrin O'Brien (back home for the weekend) and Tracy Wu.

*I know that the 3rd annual Turkey Trot 5 Miler was held in 1982, but not sure if the 5 Miler transitioned to a 5K or if it disappeared before the 5K version started.  If anyone has any history with the 5 Mile version and the first 5K version, please contact me.

Photos by Robert Copelan and Ally D

Remaining Races

The two remaining races in the race series will be run the next two Saturdays (12/7 and 12/14) Bedford Christmas Classic, and Deck the Heels 5K.  

https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Bedford/PeaksChristmasClassic

https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Altavista/DecktheHeels5KNightRun

December Fun Runs

Thursday December 5th - Get Lit Fun Run 6 pm at the Water Dog.  Enjoy the downtown lights during a 3 mile fun run or walk and then come inside to the warmth of the Water Dog and socialize with running friends.  https://www.facebook.com/events/1614566396142830

Saturday December 21st - Riverside Runners 830 am.  Sure, you can go to the mall and sit on Santa's lap and let him know what you want for Christmas, but where can you run with Santa and end up back at his workshop where you can show him what running related items you want for Christmas?!  https://riversiderunners.com/event/riverside-runners-jingle-bell-fun-run-2024/

Tuesday December 24th - EC Glass High School 8 am.  Frosty's Frolic. Join us for a low key fun run out and back from the high school. All paces welcome. https://www.facebook.com/events/1622271288646430

Tuesday December 31st - EC Glass High School 8 am.  Last day to log those 2024 miles.  Join us for a low key fun run out and back from the high school.  All paces welcome.

Wednesday January 1st - Riverside Park 9 am. As is our tradition, we will gather in Riverside Park on New Year's Day at 9 am for a fun run.  We will run 3 to 6 miles and enjoy refreshments afterward.  Get your New Year's off to a great start running with friends (or soon to be friends).  All paces welcome.

Virginia 10 Miler Books for Sale

There are some copies of the Virginia 10 Miler - Fifty Years and Still Running Strong available at https://runsignup.com/Race/Store/VA/Lynchburg/Virginia10Miler Order yours and it will be delivered to your mailbox.

LRRC Tech Shirt for Sale

We have one Men's medium LRRC Technical Shirt for sale for $45 if anyone is interested.

Meet Local Runner - Marlene Gray

When did you start running? I was that child who was outside running and playing from early morning to when the streetlights came on at night. I would run and jump over the neighbors’ hedges and sawhorses pretending I was running hurdles or steeplechase races. I ran cross country and track & field at high school in Pittsburgh, PA. Being on a team built character as we accepted the challenge of running up and down the hilly streets. In college, I ran with my fiancé, Kevin, when he was training for the Marine Corps. Fast forward many years to when my younger two daughters started Cross country training, and I got back into running. Then I started running LRRC races in 2016 and met lots of new friends.

Why do you run? I love to be outside in God’s creation and enjoy quiet moments with Him early in the mornings. I find deep satisfaction in setting a goal and completing it even if it means you are running in the rain, the cold windy days, with friends or alone. I run because I have made many wonderful friends that encourage me.

How often and how far do you run? If I don’t have a race coming up, I like to run round 4 to 6 miles, two to three times a week. The other two days, I will be in the woods hiking. When training for a race, I will run three to five times a week and follow a good race training plan that includes rest days.

Where do you like to run? I run Blackwater Creek, Peakland Place down Rivermont Ave, Percival’s Island and everywhere the “I RUN LYN” t-shirt lists. It is fun to change it up and see different views.
 
What are a few of your best running memories? I enjoyed running with my daughters as they trained for their cross-country races. I cherish the good conversations that brought us closer together. When I see some of their team mates out on a trail and they say, “Mrs. Gray, are you still running?!” I tell them it is a lifetime sport.  

What is the toughest race/run you have done (and why)? The toughest race was when I was running the Blue Ridge Half Marathon with a foot cramp two miles into the race just as we started up Mill Mountain. I had to decide if I was going to hurt myself if I kept running or if I should just stop. At the nine-mile mark, I watched the pacer run past me carrying the pace time sign that I wanted to beat. Not to be discouraged, I finished the race with a pace only 1 minute per mile slower than I had hoped. It wasn’t pretty, but I finished.

What is the most fun running event you have participated in? I was running my first Memorial Day 10K with 2 miles left, I met Lynn McFadden on the racecourse. We were cat and mousing one another. She would pass me and then I would pass her. She said that we should just run together because we were running at the same pace. That was where our long friendship started. We have run many times together since that race. And I told her that we can go out to eat lunch, too.

What type of races do you like to run? I like hilly and technical race courses. I stay more focused and in the moment on a hilly course. I have found myself daydreaming on flat, long stretches and slowing down. My race mantra is, “From one Burg to another Burg! From Pittsburgh to Lynchburg!” The VA 10 Miler is one of my favorite races.

What advice would you like to share with other runners? Enjoy your run. Get up and just go

Why should a runner belong to the LRRC? I joined the LRRC because they support the running community and provide wonderful opportunities to meet other like-minded runners through social events and fun runs. The LRRC Race Series offer a wide variety of organized races to challenge a new runner or a seasoned one. Discounts on races and at Riverside Runners are also nice benefits.

OBX Southern Fried Half Marathon (First Half) 2017

VA 10 Miler 2024   photo credit Janelle Christen Bell

Lynchburg, VA