Hokie Half Marathon 2013

Before daybreak on Sunday morning, over 1500 runners gathered at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center for the inaugural running of the Hokie Half Marathon and 5k races. The 13.1 mile course for the half marathon followed route 460 business from Blacksburg to the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg, with runners returning to Blacksburg on the Huckleberry Trail. Live music along the race route provided energy and entertainment for the runners, with six bands playing along the way. The Christiansburg High School Band was part of the fun, as they set up and played for the runners as the sun came up at the NRV Mall.

Getachew Asfaw was the overall winner, finishing in a time of 1:07:25. Etaferhu Temesgen was the first female finisher, completing the race in 1:16:11. Asfaw and Temesgen were part of a contingent of Ethiopian runners from the Washington DC area that entered the race. In addition to drawing the attention of these world-class runners, the race served as inspiration to many local runners to get out and get fit. All participants and race fans enjoyed a perfect September morning in southwest Virginia, and Hokie Bird medals for all finishers recognized the effort to complete the race. There were 1125 finishers in the half mrathon an 390 finishers in the 5K. The Roanoke Times article (September 16) includes 11 images.

Results

Overall results (updated March 5, 2014: Half Marathon | 5K
Age-Group results (updated Sept. 24): Half Marathon | 5K

Images from the Half Marathon

Training partners Chelsea Koonce (Blacksburg) and Vanessa Boa-Amponsem (Christiansburg) were excited to run in Sunday's Hokie Half Marathon. The ladies took part in their own "Couch-to-Half-Marathon" program in preparation for the race.

With the sun not yet over the horizon, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets presents the colors during the singing of the National Anthem before the early morning start of the Hokie Half Marathon at the VT Corporate Research Center.

The field of approximately 1,200 runners stream up Pratt Drive at the VT Coporate Research Center at the start of the Hokie Half Marathon.

Smiles were plentiful in the early morning sun at the Hokie Half Marathon.

Live music along the half-marathon route between Blacksburg and Christiansburg was part of the race experience. The Christiansburg High School Band played at New River Valley Mall to do their part to entertain the runners.

Young Ryan Pope of Christiansburg waits with his grandfather (Lynn Pope) to cheer for his mom, Laura Pope, along the race route.

Despite the early hour on a Sunday morning, drummer John Beason of the Roanoke-area band "Shorefire" enjoys performing at the finish line area of the Hokie Half Marathon.

The winner of the inaugural Hokie Half-Marathon was Getachew Asfaw, who completed the 13.1 mile race in 1:07:25.

Blacksburg's Michael Tarpey was the first local finisher in the Hokie Half-Marathon, completing the course in 1:12.02 and finishing fourth overall.

Race organizer James DeMarco announces the arrival of his wife, Mina DeMarco, at the Hokie Half-Marathon finish line. DeMarco was the fourth overall female finisher, and the first local woman to complete the race.

Two friends exchange a high-five at the finish line of the Hokie Half-Marathon and 5k.

Virginia Tech graduate students Lindsey Day, Ashley Lotfabadi, and Annie Saunders strike a fearsome pose after completing the Hokie 5k race, run in conjunction with the half-marathon.

Hokie Bird race medals were award to all half-marathon race finishers.