If you're planning on registering for the March 20th Brambleton Ribbon Run/Walk 5k, today is the day. After today, you'll pay $5 more per participant!
Go to: www.brambletonribbonrun.vpweb.com for more details and to register.

Can you tell me a bit about the kids fun run? Would it be appropriate for a 3 and 5 yr old? Thanks.

The Kids' Fun Run is less than a mile and will go around the Town Center. They can do any portion of it. Thanks to our Fun Run sponsors, Northern Virginia Orthodontics and Bloo Dental, the first 150 participants will get a t-shirt and a medallion for participating. My 4, 7, and 9 year old boys are registered. It's free, but kids have to be registered.

Hope this helps.

I've already registered for the run (my very first one!) and was curious where I can get info on the race route? Need to try it a few times ahead of time. Thanks!

We're awaiting final VDOT approval of the route and I will post it on the website (www.brambletonribbonrun.vpweb.com) ASAP. We submitted 2 options (one crosses Belmont Ridge Rd.) and the other does not. VDOT and the Co. are leaning towards the route that doesn't mess with BRR.

Course approved and added to event website TODAY!!

Has it been determined when the roads that are affected by the race will be closed, and for approximately how long? Thanks!

The roads will not be closed. The runners will occupy one lane or be directed to stay to the right while running. That being said, if you live along the course route, you can expect to see runners/walkers along your street between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., with the heaviest traffic at 8-9 a.m. We will have course marshals and auxiliary police throughout the course to minimize any disruption.

Can they stay to the left on Vickery Park? There are no houses or driveways on the left-hand side of the road but there are on the right-hand side.

Great to know, thanks!

Last day to register online (and save yourself $5 per registrant!) is Wednesday. This also guarantees that you're one of the 500 first registrants that'll get a t-shirt and goodie bag.

Don't forget to sign your kids for the FREE Kids' Fun Run...the'll get a t-shirt and participant medallion (courtesy of sponsors Northern Virginia Orthodontics and Bloo Dental!).

Thanks to our generous sponsors, 100% of the registration fees will go to fight breast cancer. Brambleton Ribbon Run/Walk 5k website

The updated course map posted to event website now includes Kids' Fun Run route.Brambleton Ribbon Run/Walk 5k website

Me again...

Calling all cheerleaders! The run/walk will be weaving throughout the residential streets of Brambleton. If you're not participating in the race/walk, please consider cheering the runners/walkers along! Make some noise (Cow bells, music, etc.), signs, pom-poms...get your family outside and show everyone the Brambleton spirit!

I don't care if I missed some discounts. I'd be *MORE* than happy to give more $$$$. My heart goes to them as always! I'll use the walk, anyway. :-)

We do appreciate that--100% of the registration fees go to our cause, thanks to our generous sponsors!

Wonderful event!

had a great time and a good run!!!

Excellent Event! Good Job Step-Sisters and Brambleton! Can't wait for next year.

Great event! It was a great turnout for a first race and I was really impressed with the coordination being a spectator. I found the coordination better some events that have been out there for a number of years. I understand that a last minute crush of registrations hit so a great job to all of the volunteers. I really hope you make this an annual event.

One minor recommendation to make it even better next year. Use championchip for timing (I understand these may be cost-prohibitive for smaller events so I completely understand you would not want to commit to these for a first year event). That should also help w/ the turnaround for overall placement awards.

Great event! We all had such a great time! The older boys are now "hooked" on 5K's.
Some great pictures from the day by Amie Otto.....
http://amieottophotography.zenfolio.com/p674953526

What a great event. Injury and illness prevented me from running -- though I registered. Kudos to the Step-sisters for all of their continued efforts for this great cause. Also, congrats to everyone who participated. Finishing is awesome. For some, getting across that line at 1 hour is as impressive as that insanely fast dude who won at 4:59 pace!

Great work to the runners on a tough course.

Only recommendation -- next year they should add Clydesdale divisions to make winners out of the big runners. Some races have 3 sets of Clydesdale divisions -- with some "Clydesdales" qualifying at 190 pounds. (BTW -- If I were 190 pounds, I would hardly consider that a Clydesdale -- but in the running world, anyone over 170 on an average sized frame is burdened as a runner.) I have nothing but love for those 40 something folks posting 20 minute times, but when a 230 pound 40 something guy posts a 21 minute time -- that's impressive on the magnitude of a 16-17 minute time for runner body people.

Anyway -- more divisions -- more winners. Just a thought.

I was standing next to the guy who won at the awards ceremony. He didn't even look winded.

Of course, since he finished so quickly, he had a nice long recovery time while the rest of us crossed the finish line.

They would have had to scrape me up off the pavement if I ran a 5K in 15 min.

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

That time is so sick. Just go to the gym, set the treadmill on 12 MPH, and tell me how long you make it. LOL. That's still a tick slower than that winner.

In fact, to run a sub-20 5K is extremely impressive. Imagine setting a treadmill at 9.3 MPH and running 3.1 miles. That's what it takes. Then imagine taking that outside and compensating for hills, sun, and wind. People who can run those sustained speeds always amaze me. I have a very good VO2max, so I sometimes wonder what I could do if I weighed 150 pounds.

That's funny about the awards. I bet he was well rested by then.

Actually -- just for fun -- here is a calculator to let you know how fast you could be by adjusting your age, weight, and best time to an ideal age and weight.

http://academic.udayton.edu/PaulVanderburg..._calculator.htm

According to this thing, I am still trailing speedy guy -- though my adjusted time would be 16:40.

The calculator has me at 21:37 based on my 24:30 actual time (clock time was 25:40). My best 5K, which I ran November 2008, was 21:20 at the age of 37.

Sub 20 -- you can do it!

6:30 pace is fast. Better do some more speed work and hills.

I am considering cutting 45 pounds and making a run at it!

I did 2.96 miles in 20 flat on the treadmill. My best outside 5K time is 21:36, and my best tread time is 20:52. My weight ranged between 234-and 240 for those. If I could get down around 190-195, I think I could really burn the time. My problem is -- I am closing in on some weight-lifting goals, and I can't possibly reach them by cutting that much weight -- which would be almost all muscle. As of last Saturday, I was 240.4, 203 pounds of muscle, 9 pounds of lean tissue, and the rest fat. At 43, I don't have the luxury of just cutting the fat -- when I cut I will lose more muscle than fat.

I struggle with this. Cutting weight would help me on my new initiative too -- jumping.

I think I am going to carry this weight training out for one more year to see if it gets me where I want to go. If I can't do it by June 2011 -- I will shift back to running, both speed and endurance. With healthy shoulders and a ticking clock, this is my chance to reach some long held strength goals. I have drawn a line in the sand at 240lbs though. This weight allows me to perform running too. Anything more will be too much of a burden.

I think if you switch to more hill work and add more HITT training, you will bust through 20. You are in great shape. I think the speed work is key. Airing it out to capacity, and then stretching out that distance can give you those two minutes faster than you think.

21:36 @ 240 is real impressive I must say.

My wife (fuzzyturtle) can show us men how to run & train for speed. She ran 21:00 and placed 3rd overall female (w/ only 3 outdoor runs this season). I think the only way I can beat her is if she pushes the 2 kids in the double stroller next time- and then, only maybe I will beat her. I always seem to be chasing some 12 year old or 75 year old in my races.

I distinctly remember a guy with a stroller blowing past me up the first hill in this race then getting blown away by a teenager in the final 1/2 mile.

Sadly, if I were to run a 5K today, my goal would be 45:00. You guys put me to shame!

That'd be my goal for walking it.

That is an awesome time. This course was no easy course either. For anyone of size, it was a killer because of the early hill profile. I tried to get my 10 year old to run it. She ran one last year at 9 and did it in 26 minutes. Looking at the times, she would have finihed first in the age group if she ran. Of course, she would only have run with her best friend, who was 2 minutes faster than her -- so she probably still wouldn't have finished first.

I watched a youtube video of some former Marine -- 62 years old -- scoring a perfect score on the Marine corp fitness test. he did the 100 sit-ups in 2 minutes, 21 pull-ups, and ran 3 miles in 18:30. As I tell my kids, train like there is always someone better -- there usually is.

Congrats to the Mrs. -- that is awesome.

Nice link... It takes my actual of 22:54 down to an adjusted 18:17. Interestingly it takes my 4:30:42 marathon time down to 3:30.. WooHoo Boston qualify!!! If only it were true....

At 49 years old and 195 lbs I'll take all the help I can get

That's a real impressive time.

No shame in walking the course or taking your time.

I started out with a little sprinting to get the heart rate going then walked the rest of the course.

I agree, it did seem much more twisty and hilly than last year's route.

It was also fun to see such a community effort complete with all manner of strollers and even some nifty belts with leashes for runners with dogs.
The people watching was fabulous!

I work out on the elliptical every day but my legs were killing me the day after the race. Next year, I need to get in more pavement time to prepare.

I was watching (taking pictures) when this guy rounded the corner onto Olympia from Regal Wood and he didn't look winded even then. LCSO arrived AFTER he ran by to monitor traffic at the intersection and one deputy said to another that they should expect the first runner in a about 5-10 minutes. I told them they missed the first runner and they looked at me like I was crazy.

That guy was flying! The number 2 guy was more than several blocks behind. Amazing. There was one guy pushing a double stroller that was going so fast, I was envious of the awesome ride those kids were having.

We're thinking of adding a 10k to next year's event...thoughts?

Sign me up!! You would probably get more interest by offering both 5k and 10k. In this area there is a 5k every weekend but not as many 10k and longer races. People are more willing to travel for the longer distance races.

I think the 10K is a good idea, and will bring out more runners. When Brambleton is done in 15-20 years, we could add a half marathon.