Recreation

Date published: 12/7/2007

BY KURT NICOLL

One race ends and the next one begins.

The Fredericksburg Area Running Club's grand prix 10-race series concludes with Sunday's VA Runner Blue & Gray Half-Marathon.

Pre-race entries numbered around 250 by midweek, but race officials won't be surprised if the figure doubles by the time the starting gun goes off at 7:30 a.m. at the strip mall on Fall Hill Avenue near Central Park.

The scenic but demanding course includes a stretch along the Rappahannock River on Sophia Street, circling the University of Mary Washington athletic fields on a gravel path located off Hanover Street, and a run along the canal path.

Current entry fee is $45 and runners can sign up as late as 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Packet pickup is available today and tomorrow during regular business hours at VA Runner.

Running enthusiasts need not be disheartened by the racing series' ending or the prospect of months of inactivity. FARC already is finalizing plans for an exciting 2008 season of competition as well as the formation of a Marine Corps Marathon Half Marathon training team in conjunction with the race scheduled May 18 in Fredericksburg.

Plans for the training club, as well as a free seminar on functional strength training by FBI Academy instructor E.J. O'Malley, will be discussed at the next FARC meeting, Thursday, Dec. 13. Interested persons are asked to meet in Room 120 at James Monroe High School at 7:30 p.m.

Although the 20-week course will serve as a tuneup for next spring's race, the training club also is open to first-time runners who simply want to get in better shape and meet people with similar interests.

"We'll start slowly," said Debi Bernardes, one of roughly seven instructors involved with the team. "We're not going to totally immerse them with a three-mile run to start."

Group runs will be held Saturdays and Sundays, beginning Dec. 29, with each participant's progress being evaluated. Cost to join is $70 (there is a $20 discount for current members of FARC).

For additional information concerning the training club, visit runfarc.com.

ROUGH BEGINNING AT AYF NATIONALS

Two area qualifiers lost in Monday's opening round of the American Youth Football national championships in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Stafford Raiders peewee team lost 6-0 to the Chandler Blitz. They had a consolation game scheduled against LosToros Bulls.

The Stafford Titans midget team were defeated by the Addison Cowboys 25-6. Their consolation game was scheduled against the Chandler Packers.

In the Division II peewee bracket, the Stafford Titans received a first-round bye and were slated to face the Brooklyn Renegades, who won their game 31-8 over the Plymouth Huskies. The winner of that game will take on the Manassas Mutiny in tomorrow's championship game.

Date published: 12/7/2007