Oak Ridge Today

Secret City Half Marathon, 5K is Saturday

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The Secret City Half Marathon and 5K has grown into one of the largest athletic events in Oak Ridge. A field of an estimated 700 runners and walkers will participate when the race celebrates its seventh anniversary on Saturday, November 21.

“This year we have totally revamped the event, and we think participants are going to really enjoy the changes,” says Lisa Kendall, race director for the half marathon and 5K races and event sales manager for the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In the past, the event was held over two days but that is down to one day with both races starting just 15 minutes apart. The previous “double loop” half marathon route is gone, replaced with a route that starts and finishes on the Melton Lake peninsula and includes Union Valley Road, home to the Rogers Group, which is the presenting sponsor of this year’s event.

“We are thrilled that the Roger’s Group gave us permission to route the race down their private road and by their quarry,” Kendall said. “It’s a very scenic route that will be new to many Oak Ridgers as well.” [Read more…]

One legally blind, the other in a wheelchair, racing duo trains for marathon Sunday

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Melissa Peplow and Vicky Wallace at Oak Ridge Marina on Oct. 21, 2015

Melissa Peplow, left, is legally blind, and Vicky Wallace, in wheelchair, has lost use of the left side of her body after four strokes. But together the two compete in running races. Here they train at the Oak Ridge Marina. On Sunday, they’ll compete in the 40th Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

One running partner is legally blind. The other has had four strokes and lost control of the left side of her body.

But together, they’ve formed a racing duo that’s competed in 5ks, 10ks, 15ks, and half-marathons.

This weekend, the duo, Melissa Peplow and Vicky Wallace, will compete in the their longest race yet, a full marathon. It’s the 40th Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday in Washington, D.C.

Peplow is legally blind. She runs behind Wallace’s wheelchair and helps push it.

Wallace’s left side is paralyzed. She helps navigate and uses her right hand to help push her wheelchair, and her right leg to help pull it.

The two competed in back-to-back half-marathons in East Tennessee last November, racing in Farragut on a Saturday and then in Alcoa on a Sunday.

Wallace, who is co-owner of J&M Butcher Shop in Oak Ridge, keeps a sticker-box checklist of the races they’ve completed (5k, 10k, 15k, 13.1 (half-marathon)) on the back of her SUV. One box remains unchecked: 26.2. That’s short for 26.2 miles, the length of a marathon.

[Read more…]

Discount offered for Secret City 5k, Half Marathon

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The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau is offering a limited-time discount to the next 100 runners who register for either the Secret City 5k or the Secret City Half Marathon to be held November 29 and 30. With a few weeks left before the race, runners and walkers are encouraged to lace up their running shoes and sign up soon to participate in one of these great family-friendly athletic events in Oak Ridge.

Runners who take advantage of this discount are eligible for $10 off the Half Marathon using coupon code SPY10 or $5 off the 5k using coupon code SPY5. This discount expires on or before November 15. [Read more…]

Pictures: Secret City Half Marathon start, winners

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Race photographer Gabe Walker of Walker Athletic Photography provided the following photos from the Secret City Half Marathon on Sunday. You can order prints here.

Secret City Half Marathon Start

More than 500 runners start the Secret City Half Marathon on Briarcliff Avenue on Sunday. (Photos courtesy Gabe Walker of Walker Athletic Photography)

[Read more…]

Florida runner finishes first in Secret City Half Marathon

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Secret City Half Marathon Start

Five hundred thirty-six runners start in the Secret City Half Marathon on Briarcliff Avenue on Sunday morning.

A Florida man finished first in the Secret City Half Marathon on Sunday morning, crossing the finish line almost eight minutes ahead of the second-place runner.

Jason McLeod, 21, of Orlando, Fla., finished the 13.1-mile course in 1:11:53. It was his first half marathon.

McLeod has never competed in a full marathon either, but he did run cross country for four years at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn.

Gina Rouse, 34, of Knoxville finished second with a time of 1:19:50. She was also the top female runner among the 536 athletes who started Sunday. She has competed in marathons, including the Nashville Marathon in 2006 and Atlanta Marathon in 2011. [Read more…]

Secret City Half Marathon this weekend features 5k, 10k races; health, fitness expo

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Secret City Half Marathon Course Map

The Secret City Half Marathon course map is pictured above.

The Secret City Half Marathon this weekend will feature 5k and 10k races, and a new health and fitness expo.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The inaugural Health and Fitness Expo is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, also at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The event will include booths and exhibits from fitness and health professionals around the region.

“The Secret City Half Marathon Health and Fitness Expo provides the perfect setting to promote Oak Ridge as a top-notch visitor destination,” said Katy Brown, executive director of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Around 600 runners from around the Southeast have registered to participate in the Half Marathon, and we hope every one of them will check in at the Health and Fitness Expo.” [Read more…]

Some road, lane closures during Secret City Half Marathon Nov. 30-Dec. 1

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Secret City Half Marathon Course Map

The course map for the Secret City Half Marathon is pictured above.

Some traffic lanes and roads will be closed, and several main roads and intersections will be affected by the Secret City Half Marathon road races next weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, officials said Thursday.

About 800 runners are expected to race on the streets and greenways of Oak Ridge during these family-friendly athletic events, the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a press release Thursday.

“Motorists should be aware of runners and walkers in the race areas and try to avoid these roads and find alternate routes if possible,” the release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will shut down portions of the race course during the affected time periods. Both races start and finish on Badger Avenue near Oak Ridge Associated Universities and continue along the following route through central Oak Ridge: [Read more…]

Secret City Half Marathon Weekend to feature new 5K, 10K races; health, fitness expo

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Secret City Half Marathon

The Secret City Half Marathon Weekend at the end of November will feature 5K and 10K races, and a new Health and Fitness Expo.

The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the changes on Wednesday. The marathon weekend is Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

“With less than two months to the race, runners and walkers are encouraged to lace up their running shoes and sign up soon to participate in one of these great family friendly athletic events in Oak Ridge,” a press release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5K and 10K races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. Both courses start and end near the Oak Ridge Civic Center and run through the streets of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Letter: Secret City race raised about $5,000 for Child Advocacy Center

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To the Editor:

The board and staff of the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County, or CACACT Inc., wish to express their great appreciation and gratitude to the many organizers and sponsors of the Secret City Half Marathon and the Secret City Run for Kids on Nov. 18. The race generated approximately $5,000 for CACACT Inc, which serves abused children living in Anderson County.

Specifically, the mission of CACACT Inc. is to combat severe physical and sexual abuse and resulting trauma by coordinating and providing services in a child friendly, safe, and nurturing environment. Our vision is that all children in Anderson County will be safe, families strengthened, victims healed from trauma, and offenders held accountable.

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More than 600 run in Secret City Half Marathon, results online

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Secret City Half Marathon

About 560 runners competed in the Secret City Half Marathon, which started and ended on Briarcliff Avenue Sunday morning. (Photo courtesy of Frank Chmielewicz)

More than 600 adults and children ran in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, organizer Frank Chmielewicz said.

It was the third year for the race, and final fundraising totals should be available in a few weeks, Chmielewicz said.

Race results are available at the Secret City Half Marathon website. They include overall results and finishes by age group and relay team results.

Top local finishers in the half marathon included Ed Wright of Oak Ridge (No. 3) and Jeremy Sexton of Clinton (No. 5).

[Read more…]

This weekend: arts and crafts, ballet, theater, half-marathon

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There is much to do in Oak Ridge this weekend, ranging from arts, crafts, and theater to ballet, disc golf, and a half marathon.

We’ve already posted stories about some of the events, including today’s cash mob and “The Wiz” at Oak Ridge Playhouse. We’ve also written about the Secret City Half Marathon and free Turkey Bowl Disc Golf on Sunday.

But we’ve also added several new events to our new events calendar. They include an arts and crafts fair at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, Girls Inc. Parade of Trees at Pollard Auditorium, Folk Art Nativities at Oak Ridge Art Center, and “The Nutcracker” ballet at Oak Ridge High School. Those are all happening today, although there is another performance of “The Nutcracker” tomorrow (Sunday).

Please check out our events calendar for more details on these and other events.

Secret City Half Marathon in November could have up to 800 runners

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More than 400 runners from 15 states have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in November, an organizer said Monday.

The 13.1-mile race could have up to 800 runners, said Frank Chmielewicz. The race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue, and the course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.

Proceeds benefit the Anderson County Child Advocacy Center, which helps children who have been victims or witnesses to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or other crimes.

Besides the Half Marathon and Relay, there is also a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids, Chmielewicz said. It’s for children from first grade to sixth grade.

“The free event encourages children to exercise by establishing a fun and exciting goal for them to strive toward,” Chmielewicz said. “Participants will run a total of 12 miles leading up to race morning. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 miles.”

All participants get an official race number, race shirt, and goody bag. Medals will be given to those children who are pre-registered and cross the finish line, Chmielewicz said.

The race starts at 8 a.m. Nov. 18.

Chmielewicz said Emory Valley Road between the Oak Ridge Marina and Briarcliff Avenue will be closed to traffic from about 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nov. 18 for the run. In addition, Briarcliff Avenue between Emory Valley and Laboratory roads will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. that day. One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed.

“Expect delays on Melton Lake drive due to runners crossing the street to run on the greenway,” Chmielewicz said.

He said the race is being conducted with help from the city of Oak Ridge.

There will be a Saturday evening pasta dinner after the race to raise money for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/.