"I was really surprised with the enthusiasm and the camaraderie was great," said long-time event director Lou Molinaro. "I think the people who participated were those who really enjoy running and walking."
The rain got lighter and heavier throughout the morning with the heavier rain starting just at the 8 a.m. start of the race. Molinaro said 195 people finished the running, walking and children's races.
"This race was really a feather in the hat for the dedicated runners and walkers in this area to have come out and supported the race in the rain," he said. "I think it was one of the best races I've ever been part of."
In its 15th year, timer John Kotarski said working the race is a tradition he's had from the beginning.
"I missed one year in the 15 years because I had to work," he said. "This is the first time it's rained like this during the race, though."
Winning the 5-mile run was David Miller of Athens, who has made a habit of breaking the tape at the Vienna race. The 43-year-old completed the course in 29 minutes, 6.17 seconds, a winning margin of 1 minute and 1 second over runnerup David Bright of Marietta.
Claiming the female championship was 22-year-old Brittany Schob of Vienna, with a winning time of 32 minutes, 58.16 seconds. Jocelyn Major of Vincent, Ohio, was second, in 34:51.64
Winning the 5K walk was 53-year-old Tim Finkel of Marietta in 31:22.93, about 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Jay Smith of Waterford, Ohio. The female walk winner was 56-year-old Carol Seely of Vienna, who completed the course in 32:08.10, 29 seconds ahead of runner Anda Coiner of Marietta.
All the races began and ended at the Jackson Middle School football stadium with runners competing a 5-mile course that ran down 34th Street to Grand Central Avenue. They stayed on Grand Central until they reach 55th Street, then continued onto River Road for 22 blocks to 33rd Street. They took 33rd back to Grand Central, turning onto 34th Street for the home stretch run back into the stadium, where they are greeted not only by race officials, but those who come out to cheer on the competitors.
Walkers left at 8:05 a.m. and competed over a 5K (3.1 miles) course. Like the runners, the walkers headed down 34th Street to Grand Central Avenue, but turned off of at 39th Street. They followed River Road to 34th Street and took 34th all the way back to the stadium.
"By the end of the day, the finish line at the stadium was nothing but a swamp because of the rain and mud," Molinaro said.
While the road races are for adults, the children also are a major part of race day as boys and girls ages 3 through 11 participated in the River City Kids Races, which began and ended at the football stadium.
Those 3-and-under covered 50 meters; 4 and 5-year-olds will go 100 meters; those ages 6 and 7 will race 200 meters. Both the 8-9 and 10-11 groups ran 400 meters. All participants received a ribbon.
"I was really surprised with the kids who came," Molinaro said. "They really had a lot of fun running in the rain."
Molinaro said Vienna is the first stop in the River City Kids Series.
Although the races last year had more than 200 participants, Molinaro said he was not upset by the turnout this year.
"I'm pleased any time we can get people out and enjoying running or walking," he said. "Even though we had more runners in the past, this year the runners had a lot more spark to them."
Molinaro said he has seen the growth in the local running and walking community, which was evident in each of the races in the Winter Series which drew approximately 200 participants. He estimated that race participants are 50 percent runners and 50 percent walkers.
Article Photos
Runners did not let heavy rain stop the Vienna River Road Race as they head to Grand Central Avenue from 34th Street on Saturday morning. (Photos by Jolene Craig)