Running Festival takes over Mason District Park
Nearly 200 people turned out for the Mason District Running Festival, a full day of six races on the trails in Mason District Park Sept. 22.
Organizer Bernard Pesjak of Get Up and Go Coaching has been hosting running events since 2012, including the Rise Run Shine Running Festival in Wakefield Park in March. His goal is to promote fitness and healthy lifestyles.
There was no registration fee but participants were encouraged to submit donations in support of Shelter House, a nonprofit organization that operates shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence, including the Patrick Henry Family Shelter in Seven Corners. According to Pesjak, the Running Festival raised around $800.
The Taste of Annandale Planning Committee was one of several sponsors of the event, and three Running Festival participants won free registrations for the Taste of Annandale 5K Race on Oct. 13.
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| Bernard Pesjak (left) instructs kids for the fun run. |
Another sponsor, PR Performance Fitness, conducted warm-ups for the runners and will do the same for the Taste of Annandale 5K.
Here are the results from the Running Festival:
Six-hour race – The top three runners were Matthew Perkins, 40, of Washington, D.C.; Wyatt Massey, 25, of Frederick, Md.; and Andrew Rogers, 23, of Alexandria. The top female, coming in fifth, was Joanna Duran, 41, of Bristow, Va. Perkins completed 12 laps for a total of 37.2-miles five hours, 54 minutes, and 20 seconds.
Three-hour race – Hector Vicente, 41, of Washington, D.C., was the winner, completing this 18.6-mile race in three hours, 10 minutes, and 59 seconds. Josh Howe, 39, of Centreville, came in second, and Brandon Pizano, 29, of Arlington, was third. The top female, Michelle Johnson, 27, of Baltimore, was fifth.
5K – Todd Greenwood, 36, of Annandale, came in second with a time of 21:28. C. McGee, 12, of Annandale, was third. Shannon Blevins, 41, of Alexandria, the top female, was fourth. [Due to a technical glitch, the name of the winner will be announced later.]
10K – Mark Turek, 45 of Arlington, won with a time of 54:07. Andres Tavarez, 42, of Fredericksburg, was second, and Jennifer McGough, 34, of Washington, D.C., was third.
Kids fun run – The winner was O. Novack, 7, of Annandale. J. Beardall, 9, of Manassas, was second, and E. Sefzik, 5, of Alexandria, was third. E. Villarroel, 9, of Arlington, the top female, was fourth.
Half marathon – Ranner Selge, 36, of Washington, D.C., had the fastest time, with 1:53:19. Nicholas Fening, 24, of Woodbridge, came in second, and Kaleb Bennett, 23, of Washington, was third. The top female, Laurie LeRoy, 49, of Springfield, was fifth.
