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Youngsters fill downtown streets
Kids embrace fitness, fun at Great Train Race
BY EDIE GROSS
Date published: 5/5/2008
BY EDIE GROSS
Nate Lasker and Aric Peterson were still raring to go after finishing their own heats of yesterday's Great Train Race.
So the Chancellor Middle schoolers donned yellow "volunteer" T-shirts and ran the mile-long course again.
And again.
And again.
"We're following people, telling them to keep running, encouraging them," said Aric, 14. "We've run a lot of miles."
"And there's more to come," added Nate, 13.
About 3,000 children participated in the 14th annual event in downtown Fredericksburg yesterday, cheered on by parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors, race volunteers and the occasional family dog.
Runners ranged from veterans like Walton Mahon, 12, who credits "raw talent" for seven years of top finishes, to newbies like Taylor Henderson, 10, who came with about 200 of her Sealston Elementary classmates.
"I think it's all about having fun," she said.
The Fredericksburg Area Running Club organizes the race each year, rain or shine, with a cast of volunteers.
Club president Jim Thull said this year's race ran smoothly, particularly since each child wore a chip that recorded finish times instantaneously. He said he hopes kids who compete in the race each year embrace fitness.
"I'm hoping that years from now, people will say as adults, 'I remember growing up in Fredericksburg, we had this race,'" he said.
Lisa Sylvia's three children participated in their third race this year. Three of their cousins also came up from Raleigh, N.C., to join them.
"As soon as we moved to Fredericksburg, all my neighbors said, 'You've got to sign your kids up for the Great Train Race. It's the most fun thing in Fredericksburg,'" said Sylvia.
Her parents, Sharon and Jim Elliott, flew in from Hawaii to whoop, holler and otherwise lend moral support to the brood.
"I love the attitudes," said Sharon Elliott. "Everybody cheers on everybody."
At the finish line, youngsters happily enjoyed ice cream, snow cones and kettle corn.
"I do it for the food," said Edward McKinnon, 13, who's run the race for five years.
Participants also showed off their medals and compared running times.
Caitlyn and Kelsey Peace, 12, said they finished in just over 7 minutes.
"It was one of my best times ever," Caitlyn said.
Edward Hoffman, 9, shaved about a minute off last year's time, an improvement he attributed to practicing with the running club at Lafayette Upper Elementary.
"I do it for fitness and the reward of being healthy," the fourth-grader said.
Plenty of kids credited the running programs at their schools for spurring them on. A few found inspiration elsewhere.
"We usually race each other," 5-year-old Brandon Rowell said, pointing to sister Bailey, 8. "A lot."
Jack and Henry Handley, 8 and 6, also get a workout courtesy of baby sister, Emma, 21/2.
"She chases 'em around all the time," said dad Kevin Handley. Emma was planning to join her brothers on the course this year.
"We'll see how she does in the Caboose Run, if she doesn't trip over her shirt," Handley said.
Some kids forgo the training all together and just enjoy the moment.
"Every year, we say we're going to train," said Sylvia, the mother of three runners, "but every year, we just come out and have fun."
Edie Gross: 540/374-5428
Email: egross@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Fredericksburg
Date published: 5/5/2008
Most recent reader comments:
1 comments have been posted.
This was wonderful. This race was the 5th year my kids participated. It is wonderfully sponsored and operated. Thank you so much.
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Awesome Event!!
(posted by
Justice1
, May 5, 2008 9:07 am)
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