Hill vs. beauty at Freedom’s Run

Hill vs. beauty at Freedom’s Run
James, Jethwa take marathon titles

By Karen Gardner
Special to TriStateRunnur.com

It was hills versus beauty for the half and full marathon runners in Saturday's Freedom's Run, which took runners on a tour through historic national parks and historic small towns in West Virginia and Maryland. More than 2,600 runners were registered for the full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K. They came from 37 states.

David James, 32, of Somers, N.Y. was the top male marathoner with a time of 2 hours, 44 minutes, 43 seconds. Alison Jethwa, 31, of Baltimore, was the top female with a time of 2:55:19. David Hryvniak, 25, of Chesapeake, Va., was to top male in the half, with a time of 1:13:27. Brenda Schrank, of Winchester, Va., who won in 1:27:13. took the top female honors for the half in her hometown race, with a time of 1:15:36.

The runners making their way past the Irish Brigade tower on Antietam National Battlefield didn't have awards on their mind, however. The half and full runners had just made their way up a steep, long hill to a lookout point which gives runners and tourists alike a magnificent view of the battlefield and surrounding communities. Half-marathon participants were at the halfway point, while full marathoners were at mile 19.5.

As they made their way up the long hill, mountains unfolded off to the east. Ahead were a series of short, rolling hills, and the strains of bagpipe music as they passed historic Dunker Church.

"I wasn't ready for it," said Deborah Lawrence, from Chicago. "I did the marathon last year," said Diana Hammond. "I signed up for this because it was flatter. Then they reversed the course."

It's true. Last year's race took runners in the half down that steep hill, but there were also uphills that turned into downhills.

"Tough but beautiful," one marathoner said as he grabbed some water at the aid station before the tower.

Janice Dobson, of Thurmont, Md., who was doing the half, had the right attitude. "You need the hills to challenge you as a runner," she said. "Could you have found a few more hills?" called out another runner as he raced by.

Shane Wyhn, of New Jersey, said the course was gorgeous and the volunteers very helpful and supportive.

"I'm having the best time ever," Angie Shimer, of Frederick, Md., said of her first half-marathon. "This is awesome."

Residents of Sharpsburg came out to cheer on the runners as the half marathoners closed in on the finish, and the full marathoners pushed through their final six miles. Michelle Mitchell, of Taneytown, Md., stopped in front of a bar to use the restroom. Workers quickly showed her the way.

The day started in the predawn light in Harpers Ferry, with perfect early fall running weather. Temperatures were in the low 50s, and skies were clear. Thursday's drenching rain was a distant memory. Runners gathered at the Visitor's Center of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. They listened to the strains of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" before the gun sounded, and runners filled the streets of historic Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

They then crossed the Potomac River on the Appalachian Trail National Scenic Trail bridge, and entered the C&O Canal National Historic Park. Runners followed the nearly flat canal towpath until mile 15, and exited the towpath at Miller's Sawmill Road. This rural road climbs a bit in elevation, and brings runners out near Antietam. Then it was over the roads of Antietam, where they were treated to more vistas. The leafy surroundings were just beginning to show off fall colors.

David Howell and Leah Ruffner, of Charles Town, were excited after finising the half.

"This gave you a real challenge," Howell said. "I feel like you had a few gut checks. When you get to the top, it's like the best feeling in the world."

The couple ran it together. It was Ruffner's first half marathon. "It was awesome," she said. "It was a great first run. It was my first ever timed race.”

She finished in about 2:15, while Howell finished in 2:18.

Richard Barhydt, of Reston, Va., said the race was a lot of fun. "The second half was pretty hilly, but it was a great experience. It was nice to see the Park Service out cheering people on."

He completed the marathon in about 3:30. "We couldn't have had a nicer day," he said.

He enjoyed the bagpipe music.

There were many people running for charities. Jamison Reynolds, of Bunker Hill, W.Va., Brad Garfinkel, of Harrisburg, Pa., and Jessica Cutler, of Atlanta, were raising money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Reynolds and Garfinkel were doing the Hershey, Pa.,, Half-Marathon the next day.

Mitch Keiler did Freedom's Run as a training run for the upcoming JFK 50 Mile on Nov. 20.

"This is one of the more scenic marathons I've participated in," he said. The hills were tough, however, he said. "It's almost as if you want to run this in reverse."

Gail Martin, from Sharon, Mass., said the hills from mile 15 to 22 of the marathon kept on coming. "I like hilly courses," she said. The flat section on the towpath was a bit long, but the steep hill before the Irish Brigade tower "did me in." Still, she finished in 3:54.

Julia Baxter, of Gainesville, Ga., nearly missed the start, but got a ride after missing the last shuttle. "I've done many marathons," she said. "The scenery was unbelievable. It was nice running on the trails." She finished in 3:56.

Patti Minton, also of the Atlanta area, is doing one marathon in all 50 states. Saturday's race was her 43rd. "In scenery, I rank it with Tahoe, Bar Harbor and St. George," she said.

John Kippen, of Frederick, Md., was sitting down in the finisher's tent after the race. "I survived," he said. t was a tough course. It's the hardest one I've done." He's done more than 30 marathons. "Those hills are. . ." his voice trailed off. "I like the whole concept, but it's not a Boston qualifier."

Mark Lawrence, president of the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club, also finished the marathon. He was impressed by the Civil War history. "Gen. A.P. Hill and his men marched 13 miles from Harpers Ferry toward Antietam, and as I was going up Millers Sawmill I was thinking of that," he said.

David James, the winner, is a well-known ultramarathoner and a medical student. He came at the invitation of race director Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a family doctor in Harpers Ferry who is promoting running as a way to good health.

"I wanted to see the area," James said. The hills weren't bad in comparison with those out west, he said. "I took it as it came. The towpath was the hardest part," he said.

Perhaps the real heroes were those still out on the course after five hours. Liza Clark, of Burke, Va., had a big smile on her face as she ran-walked through Antietam. It was her 13th marathon.

"I would recommend it," she said.

Toks Fashola, of Halethorpe, Md., near Baltimore, said the race is awesome. She is preparing for her 10th JFK 50 Mile, and next weekend will run her 10th Baltimore Marathon. She will have run in all 10 of the Baltimore marathons. She also will do her fifth Marine Corps Marathon later this month.

"It's gorgeous," she said as she looked around. "I couldn't find a better race."