Runners enjoyed a range of events over the holiday weekend, with everything from 5K and a marathon to a 50-mile trail run capping the TVO Roundup.
This week’s nice weather may be another round of Fake Autumn, but we’ll take it for the Fleet Feet Fall Fitness Festival. It’s scheduled for Sept. 7 at Hays Farm. Find out more below about this free family-friendly event.
Several other events are set for this weekend, including the Swing Through 5K on Friday night in Decatur, Rebecca Mountain 50-miler in Sylacauga, Coastal Triathlon in Gulf Shores, Boston or Bust Marathon in Huntsville and more. Be sure to check out the TVO Calendar for all of these events and others, and sign up to play or volunteer.
Tupelo 14.2, Marathon
In Tupelo, Melissa McDonald of Lacey’s Spring (main photo above) completed the popular Tupelo 14.2-mile race on Labor Day.
McDonald finished in 3:42:56. She was among 190 finishers who toodled along with the marathon runners for the first half and then added a little extra for the 14.2 total.
Ryder Warhurst of Corinth, Miss., won the race in 1:36.
Denise Lanahan of Madison was 24th in 1:56:42. Heather Grimes of Madison finished 75th in 2:26:04.
See all of the results of the Tupelo 14.2-mile race here.
Connor Wheelan of Starkville, Miss., won the Tupelo Marathon in 2:58:47. The strong field of runners from throughout the U.S. were seeking qualifying times for the Boston Marathon. The top 15 finishers included runners from Mississippi, Equador, California, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas.
Julie Russ of Chattanooga finished 31st in 4:17:28. Timothy Smith of Owens Cross Roads was 81st in 5:58:40.
See all of the results of the Tupelo Marathon here.
5K for FCA
CHATTANOOGA — Owen Clemons won the 5K for FCA in a speedy 15:16 on Saturday.
Eli Kaizinski was second in 15:45. Anne. Elise Wester won the women’s title and was fifth, in 18:20.
The Chattanooga Track Club event had 131 finishers and was presented by Front Runner Athletics. See all of the 5K for FCA results here.
Iron Mountain 50
DAMASCUS, Va. — Kevin Stegen and Tyson Jouglet, both of Huntsville, competed in the Iron Mountain 50 events on Aug. 31.
Stegen completed the 50-mile point-to-point race in 11:52:52. Jouglet finished the 40-mile event in 9:56:36.
VBC Music Run 5K
Jason Veclotch of Georgia won the inaugural VBC Music Run 5K on Aug. 31 to help kick off Huntsville Music Month.
The event, presented by Black Crow Building Company, is part of the Von Braun Center’s 50th anniversary. Runners started at the VBC, ran through downtown streets and returned to finish inside the VBC’s South Hall rear entrance to music and a party finish line.
Veclotch finished in 15:17 to win. Jessica Ridley, also of Georgia, was second in 15:48 by a step. Charles Estrada of Huntsville was third in 15:49
The race had 422 finishers from six states including North Carolina and Michigan.
See all of the results of the VBC Music Run 5K here.
Fall Fitness Festival
Make plans on Sept. 7 to attend the Fleet Feet Fall Fitness Festival at Hays Farm in south Huntsville and run in the Path to Positivity 5K.
This free 5K is part of a big day of events at the “5F” festival. Among them are games, food trucks, live music and vendors. Attendees can learn more about positive health benefits, stretching, hydration, wellness and more. Free sessions from Burn Boot Camp, Breathework, Irontribe and others will be held, along with a community bike ride.
The 5K is free but requires registration here.
Schedule Piling Up
With autumn (sort of) arriving, the run-bike-swim-play schedule is starting to look like a stack of Jenga blocks. The good thing is nothing will topple, because it’s great to have options.
A quick glance at the TVO Calendar shows a few options, such as the Sept. 14 Depot Days 5K in Hartselle and Glow in the Park 5K at John Hunt Park in Huntsville. The former is a morning event, and the latter is in the evening. Feeling frisky? Do both and have a good time.
The lineup on Sept. 28 will require a decision, though. Register for the Racin’ the Station Duathlon at Redstone Arsenal, or perhaps the inaugural Sublett Point 50K or 25K? Fido will be happy at the annual Bow Wow Dash 5K in Tennessee. It’s a big weekend, and we’ll see more of them like this as the year moves along.
Dizzy Fifties 50K
Registration is open for the Dizzy Fifties 50K in November, the kickoff event for the Huntsville Slam and a solid autumn trail run.
Registration closes Nov. 10, so don’t be all piddlyass about it and then email the RD pleading to get in. Either get on the boat or stay on the rock. It has to be one of the most aggravating things RDs put up with. Registration’s open for 3.5 months or more, but the day before an event is when you decide to try to get in? C’mon. Get signed up.
Dizzy runners will have a challenging but fun 10ish-mile loop that starts and ends at the Scoble Pavilion at Monte Sano State Park. Three of the loops and you’ve done the 50K. Runners sometimes do one, two or all three, depending on their training plans or whatever’s going on. It’s a good event with solid folks.
James Ebert of Huntsville smoked the course last year to win.
If you want or plan to get into the Huntsville Slam, you first have to register individually for all four events and then register on the Slam page (which will be updated soon). Those four are the Dizzy Fifties 50k, Rocket City Marathon, Recover From the Holidays 50K and Mountain Mist 50K. Registration is open for the marathon, but not yet for Recover or Mist.
Dylan Glass and Perla Núñez won the Slam titles last year.
