Saturday, April 26, 2003 -- Williamson, WV
Tug Valley RRC City of Williamson 10K (iPO Event Id#: 5504)
Story and photos by Ariana Kincaid

[Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Results by Class]
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Racing out of the fog in Williamson

The Tug Valley Road Runners Club held their Fourth Annual City of Williamson 10K on Saturday, April 26th. It was a day that dawned spitting rain, but cleared up just in time for the start of the race.

Thirty-two runners and four walkers started in the low-lying fog at the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, looping around Williamson, passing the college once and crossing the finish line in front of the SWVCTC parking lot.

Blowing away the competition and last year's course record was Frank Stanley, with a time of 36:10. Second to appear around the last turn before SWVCTC was Jared Smith, who is familiar to folks who frequent the TVRRC races. He finished with a time of 37:12.

Stanley & Smith race at the front

Third place overall and first female finisher was Kelly McGraw of Saint Albans, with a time of 39:24. Randall Watts was the third place male, finishing just under the forty-minute mark, at 39:59. And the second and third place females were Robin Weiner and Lisa Salyer, with times of 43:28 and 47:14, respectively.

The best thing about attending a TVRRC race is that each competitor's personal victory, whether the victory is finishing with a personal record, or simply finishing, becomes a victory for everyone who participates. Several people, upon completing the 10k, backtracked and re-ran part of the course in order to encourage those who were competing in their first race--although you might see that at other events, you won't see it to the degree you'll see it in Mingo County!

There's even a race for the kids

Of particular note was the story of Angie Moore, 28, who over the past year has lost 178 pounds through a combination of diet, exercise, and a whole lot of determination! Angie, who now teaches aerobics, walked in this event, but plans to compete in the Matewan 5k on May 17th. Congratulations and best of luck!

Sponsors included SWVCTC, Hardee's, Food City, Tug Valley Physical Therapy, and Appalachian First Response. Special thanks to the folks who did double duty--as race helpers and participants, like Dave Hatfield, Jeannie Rivard, David King, and Erik Eskew, and to all who came out to support the Tug Valley Road Runners Club!