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Y5 draws more than 200

May 11, 2009
By Kevin Pierson
EVOLA - Clouds and dark skies threatening rain greeted the valley as it woke from slumber Saturday morning, but no matter how much Mother Nature threatened to storm she couldn't keep 234 runners and walkers from the seventh annual Marietta Times Y5 Road Race in Devola.

This year's turnout was down by 43 over last year's Y5.

"I'm not disappointed by any means. I think everybody had a good time, good turnout," said Marietta Family YMCA Executive Director Al Miller.

The YMCA benefits from the event.

Even though it threatened rain all morning this year's Y5 took off without so much as a drop and with temperatures well suited to an early five mile, or one mile, run.
Those great temperatures and the lack of showers shined on one of the more competitive races at the Y5 in recent years as Macksburg resident Brian Hesson and Marietta native Randy Gibbs dueled for the overall title.

Hesson took the early lead, but Gibbs caught him on the back stretch down River Road to claim the title and keep Hesson from repeating as Y5 winner.

"I kept saying, 'don't let him leave you,'" Gibbs said.

Matching each other stride for stride as they turned down into Masonic Park, the start and finish of the race, Gibbs was able to pull away for a short lead, eventually beating Hesson by just seven seconds.

"I felt very strong. I just didn't trust the legs for the speed," Gibbs said.
The pair were a full minute ahead of the nearest runner as they pushed each other to the limits to make one another better.

"We pushed it, kind of to see what we both had," Gibbs said.

Cindy Martinsen, of Williamstown, was the first female across the finish line of the five mile race while Jim Wojcik, of Marietta, won the one mile Fun Run.

The 5K walk once again belonged to Lowell resident Donna Graham, who repeated as champion of the walk.

"This is a great race. It's very well done," Graham said.

Proceeds raised from the Y5 go to support scholarships for kids at the YMCA.
Through the Y5 and other fund raisers, such as the annual Partners with Youth campaign, the YMCA is able to provide over 1,000 scholarships for children to experience everything from floor hockey to swimming lessons.

For many participants in the Y5 the race was as much about the kids as it was competing.

"There's the love of running, but there's also the love of the Y and love of kids," Miller said.

Though the Y5 raises money to support the YMCA in its effort to scholarship kids into programs it also serves the valuable role of getting people out and into some exercise early on a Saturday morning.

The best part is it helps the person out on the streets of Devola and helps the Y at the same time.

"It's a nice race for anyone that just wants to walk. They don't have to be competitive," Graham said. "It's a fun thing to do and it's so healthy for your body."

Article Photos

KEVIN PIERSON The Marietta Times
Macksburg resident Brian Hesson leads Randy Gibbs, right, and the rest of the field up the street after the start of the seventh annual The Marietta Times Y5 Road Race in Devola Saturday morning. Gibbs won the race while Hesson finished second.

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