Oak Ridge Today

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

More than 600 register for Secret City Half Marathon, road closures scheduled

Posted at
By 3 Comments

Secret City Half Marathon

More than 600 runners have registered for the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Hundreds of runners from 20 states will compete in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay in Oak Ridge on Sunday, and some roads will be closed during the race.

As of Monday, more than 600 runners were already registered, according to information from organizer Frank Chmielewicz.

The 8 a.m. Sunday race starts and ends at the National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue.

Here are the race day road closures:

  • Emory Valley Road will be closed from about 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. between the Oak Ridge Marina and Briarcliff  Avenue.
  • Briarcliff Avenue will be closed between Emory Valley Road and Laboratory Road from 7:30-8:15 a.m.
  • One lane of Oak Ridge Turnpike traveling east will be closed.
  • Delays could be encountered on Melton Lake Drive due to runners crossing the street to run on the greenway.

The race is being organized by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau with help from the City of Oak Ridge, a press release said. The course includes Oak Ridge streets and greenways, including Melton Lake Greenway on the city’s waterfront.

The event includes a Secret City Half Marathon 4 Kids. This free 13.1-mile fun run is for children from first through sixth grade. It encourages children to exercise by giving them a fun and exciting goal, the release said.

By Sunday morning, participants will have run or walked a total of 12 miles. On race day, children will run the last 1.1 mile. 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. The children’s log can be downloaded at http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/register/half-marathon-4-kids.

For more information, visit http://secretcityhalfmarathon.com/ or the city’s website at www.oakridgetn.gov, or contact Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Director Josh Collins at (865) 425-3540.

Race 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.

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

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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/.