Saturday, August 7, 1999 -- Elizabeth
13th Annual Road Run & Walk
Story & photos by Julie Bertsch

[Coverage/Recap w/Pics] [Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2]
[Run Results by Class] [Walk Results by Class]

Rick Guimond kicks it in from the downhill to the flats

In a place where the crickets can be heard more often than the cars that go by, round the corner from the Wirt County Fair grounds and the local 4-H Camp, racers gathered for the 13th Annual Road 5K Run & Walk. Held in beautiful, rural West Virginia, runners and walkers raced through a cascade of green trees early Saturday morning. More than 40 people showed up to start off the day with a 5K, in the unusually cool, August weather.

Starting off slightly uphill, the pack stayed together for the 1st mile, but it was Jimmy Groves (17:48) who was the loner, ahead of the pack from the very start. "The course was really hilly, and challenging. I was leading the whole way." said Groves, "The last mile, I wasn't prepared for the hill. I think it hurt my time. I heard the last 2 miles was all downhill, but it wasn't." A minute or so behind Groves was Rick Guimond, striding hard at the very end to finish 2nd Overall with a time of 18:28. Finishing 3rd Overall was Micheal Massey (19:43), with an excellent time of his own.

Rosabel Chang picks up the pace near the finish

Around the 24 minute mark, the women started rounding the corner, heading for the finish. Leading the way was Rosabel Chang, who amazingly enough, has not run in a race since high school! "The last 2 miles was hillier than I thought it was going to be!" exclaimed Chang, "It was perfect weather to run in." The cool temperatures worked well for Chang, giving her the advantage. She finished as the 1st Overall Woman with a time of 24:03. Chang kept about 25 seconds between herself and Jenny Foley, who finished with a 24:27, to receive the Women's 2nd place trophy. Young Brett Plott ran her own race to finish with a time of 24:47, for the Women's 3rd place spot, respectively.

D.J. Camp & Jerald Vlach keep the racers safe from traffic

The walkers hung in tough, completing the hilly course with smiles on their faces. John Mike Nichols was cruising fast when he finished with the 1st place walk time of 29:51. Bill Cunningham (31:58), and Bernard Fries (32:32), finished 2nd and 3rd Overall in the 5K walk. The many volunteers were very friendly, and extremely helpful. Drinks were provided for everyone, and free ice cream from Swans was up for grabs too! It was a good time in scenic Wirt County, and you can bet that WVOutside be back for Road Race number 14 next year.