Saturday, March 4, 2000 -- Charles Town, WV
SVR Claymont Retro Ramble
Story and photos by Marty Lamp

[Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3] [Pic Set 4]

Katie Farrell cannot REMEMBER dressing like this

It was just another beautiful day in West Virginia on Saturday, March 4th, and many people around the eastern panhandle of WV gathered at Claymont Children's School, just outside Charles Town, for the Shenandoah Valley Runner's Retro Ramble.

This was not not just another 5k race, however, because it gave many people a chance to wear those clothes they have stored away in the attic. It was a 70's theme for the day, and quite a few runners seemed to have no problem whatsoever in taking part.

Nearly 70 people of all ages and abilities convened for the 9:30am start, some wearing bell bottoms, butterfly collars, gold chains, and oh yes, polyester jackets.

Dustin Sweeney gets in front early

The course started behind Claymont School, giving everyone a 1/4 mile start on a gravel road. Then it was left onto Huyette Road for a slight uphill before turning left yet again and onto some rolling roads through fields and sunshine. At the halfway point, everyone looped back to the beginning, with a slight downhill finish waiting for them.

The first person to make it back to the finish line was Dustin Sweeney(17:31). Sweeney jumped out to a big lead right from the beginning, and never lost his stride as he finished with more than a minute lead over second place finisher Richard Keplinger(18:32). Keplinger himself kept an impressive pace, finishing with nearly a minute lead over third place finisher William Frye(19:29).

Ann & Dillon Robb having fun on the run

The fastest female on the run this day was Kim Burns(20:57). Burns managed a 6:45 pace per mile to finish in tenth place overall. Barely a 1/2 minute behind Burns was Ruth Riemenshneider(21:35), finishing in second place for the ladies and an impressive 15th overall.

After the big kids race, the little kids got a chance to shine as everyone gathered to watch the youngsters go at it.

This was the last race in the 2000 SVR Winter Series. All the folks who make up the Shenandoah Valley Runners have put on a great series, with races that were always fun, and usually quite entertaining. Once again, WVOutside thanks Karsten Brown for all his help with results, schedules, and an endless amount of useful information.