3 of city's fastest women share backstories

While putting the finishing touches on my story about 13-year-old Alana Hadley, which appeared in Sunday's Observer (and lives online here), my editors asked me to add a paragraph or two that might put her success at such a young age into context.

The idea was to check in with a few of the fastest women in Charlotte and find out how young they were when they got into running. This is what wound up in the newspaper:

Generally speaking, [USA Track & Field spokesperson Jill Geer] says female distance runners tend to peak during their late 20s.

For instance, 28-year-old Shalane Flanagan, a former UNC Chapel Hill star (whose photo adorns Alana's social studies notebook), broke the U.S. 5,000-meter record when she was 26. Megan Hovis, 28, a local runner who finished 12th at the women's Olympic trials marathon in Boston in 2008, started running competitively during her senior year of high school.

But that was the super-abridged version.

There was plenty of info I gathered from Megan (pictured at right) and two other top female runners that wound up on the cutting-room floor. Of course, none of it answers the question Is such a young start a good thing or a bad thing?, but from an anecdotal standpoint, it was still an interesting survey. Sharing those outtakes now for those who might be interested.

Megan, who has never raced Alana head-to-head but has a faster 5K PR, told me she started running her junior year of high school. "I ran on my own a bit in seventh grade to get ready for soccer, but never on any sort of team." As mentioned in the story, she didn't run competitively until her last year of high school, "and really started to progress by junior year of college." Her time at that Olympic Trials marathon in 2008 was 2:37:29.

Caitlin Chrisman, who was also mentioned in the story, ran a 28:51 to win the Winter Flight 8K women's race on Feb. 21; Alana finished second in 29:27. As I mentioned in the story, Caitlin was a star at Wake Forest -- in her senior year (2007), she ran a 20:54.10 in a 6K race at the NCAA Southeast Regional Cross Country meet, placing 12th out of 225 runners.

As for how old she was when she started running: "That's tricky. I think I did my first mile 'fun run' when I was in fifth grade, and my dad ran with me the entire time. Both my parents were training for marathons during my childhood and my sister ran cross-country in high school. I did not run regularly during the week, unless you count the games of tag I played every day on the playground. ... So really, to answer your question, I started running in seventh grade when I joined the middle school track team. I maybe ran 12-15 miles a week, and my PR in the mile was something like 6:11. I ran maybe five days a week with two to three miles as my training runs. I also went to the Southern Illinois University recreation center almost every night with my parents for 'fun,' to lift weights."

As for when she started running competitively: "I ran my first run over four miles the week before I started high school, when I was 14 years old ... . My high school coach wanted me to peak in my junior and senior years, so my mileage was increased each year. Freshman year I ran maybe 30 miles a week, sophomore 40, junior year 50, senior 55."

And finally, there's 25-year-old Tanya Zeferjahn -- currently the top women's runner for Division II Queens University's track team (last year she won an NCAA outdoor national championship in the 10,000 meters). Tanya ran a 17:06 to win the Runway 5K women's race last Oct. 31; Caitlin finished second in 17:30, Alana finished third in 17:49.

Says Tanya: "I guess you could say I started running in junior high, but I wouldn't really call it running. We maybe did 15 miles a week.

"In high school, I was on the cross and track teams and ran about 25 miles a week. This is when I would say I really started running. But I would say I didn't start running competitively until college. In high school, my fastest mile was only 5:24 and my three-mile cross time was 19:02 -- so not very competitive, especially for California; I couldn't even qualify for the state meet.

"It was all just for fun in high school, but in college, I upped the miles to about 45 miles per week and was able to earn All-American in cross country. My college -- California State University, San Bernardino -- did not have track, so I was never competitive in track until I came to Charlotte to run for Queens University."

By the way, I mentioned that Caitlin and Tanya have beaten Alana, and implied that Megan probably could (although Megan is more of a longer-distance specialist). Just a reminder that they're among the only women in Charlotte who can outrun Alana.

Maybe sometime in the future we'll get to watch these four battle it out in the same race. How awesome would that be??

Lots of rears are now in gear

It really is a minor miracle that Charlotte's inaugural Get Your Rear in Gear 5K went off without a major hitch this morning.

Organizers -- who five months ago would have considered 500 participants a successful event -- realized this week they might have more than 1,000 people on their hands. The forecast had been looking dicey for days, and at 8 o'clock Friday night, there was a downpour, thunder and lightning the likes of which we haven't seen here in Charlotte in months.

But by the time the gun went off at precisely 8:01 a.m. today at Independence Park in the Elizabeth area, the sun was shining, the poster women for the race (colorectal cancer survivors Sue Falco and Mary-Karen Bierman) were smiling, and ... did I mention the sun was shining?

The good news about the first mile was that it was mostly downhill; the bad news -- well, in addition to knowing I'd eventually have to go back up -- was that we were running down Elizabeth Avenue, which is an imperfect running surface because of the train tracks built into the street. (Race director Paige Hauff told me afterward that next year they'll probably adjust the course to avoid Elizabeth.)

After the turn onto Kings Drive, the pack faced a half-mile-plus climb with the sun in our faces as Kings became Central Avenue heading up toward Plaza Midwood (about 135 feet of ascent, according to my GPS).

Those were the two most memorable parts of the course. The rest of it was mainly residential -- along Hawthorne, Eighth, Ridgeway, and Greenway -- and not too taxing, although it's worth mentioning the short, steep hill just before the second mile marker on Hawthorne. I haven't run either CPCC's Charlotte Skyline Run or the Elizabeth 8K, so I appreciated the opportunity to race in a new-to-me area of town.

Oh, I should also note that I struck up a conversation early in the race with a guy who was just starting to get back out on the roads after a quasi-break due to the birth of his twins 4-1/2 months ago. He asked me what my PR was and went on to try to coax/cheer/talk me through the last mile or so. I ran splits of roughly 6:30, 6:45, 6:35 and finished in 20:41, missing a personal 5K best by just four seconds. Anyway, he was a big help -- I think I would have barely slipped in under 21 if not for him. (His name was either Seth or Tim; process of elimination using the results doesn't help because he finished at the exact same time as a buddy of his! Oh well.)

Anyway, to my surprise, I placed 18th overall out of 854 official finishers. But -- and this is by no means a slight to the race, the other runners, or the winners -- the field was, overall, slower than average. For comparison's sake, at the Cupid's Cup last month, 1,004 times were recorded (150 more than at GYRIG). More than half the runners -- 534 -- ran sub-10-minute miles. At GYRIG, only 258 ran sub-10-minute miles. Also, today's winner would have placed 14th at Cupid's Cup.

There are a couple likely explanations: 1) As with October's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a large number of the participants today seemed to be running or walking for the cause, not for a fast time. 2) Many serious local runners were probably saving themselves for next Saturday's Shamrock Four-Miler, or one the several big half-marathons and marathons scheduled for the Southeast U.S. next weekend.

As a result, non-elite runners who normally are gone by the time the awards ceremony takes place at other events found themselves sticking around and collecting hardware this morning. So ... slow field, yes, but I'm not complaining: Eighteenth place looks great on my resume! I talked afterward with overall runner-up Chad Crockford, and he wasn't complaining either -- Chad PR'd and missed winning his first race ever by just one second.

In fact, I heard very little complaining this morning. Because there was a greater percentage of slower runners, the atmosphere was exceedingly casual and friendly. And because the atmosphere was exceedingly casual and friendly, this was a great way for first-timers to be introduced to the 5K experience: solid course; good vendors; live entertainment from the David Michael Band; and a fantastic post-race spread from Manhattan Bagel of healthy-looking bagels, bananas, oranges, along with granola bars and other prepackaged snacks.

Sue and Mary-Karen did a nice job at the closing ceremonies, sharing their personal stories about beating colorectal cancer but also moving things along at a reasonable pace. That's a tough balance that I've seen screwed up at other events. The awards were a mixed bag: It was nice that overall and age-group winners got Omega Sports gift certificates, but I thought the medals for other top age-group finishers were a little disappointing. They basically were like your typical low-end finisher's medal -- you know, the ones you get just for completing a medium-sized half-marathon. I definitely would have preferred a trophy. (Sue did indicate to me that there was a problem with the awards they were supposed to get and that these were the compromise.)

Only other problem was beyond organizers' control: Leftover from the rain were some rather significant mud puddles where most of the pre- and post-race tables and vendors were set up in Hawthorne Park. And unfortunately, two of the biggest ones were on the path to two key areas -- registration/packet pick-up and the results board. I wish someone had run an audible and moved those two stations to paved (or at least drier) ground; I saw a lot of very dirty shoes. I feel sorry for anyone who was wearing new-ish sneaks.

But all in all this was a pretty remarkable event for one in its first year. The odds were stacked against Sue and Mary-Karen, given the weather forecasts and the overwhelming size of the turnout. But they beat the odds when they had cancer, and they beat them again today.

TOP FINISHERS

Tesfom Mehari, 20, of Wingate was the overall winner in 17:27. The runner-up, 28-year-old Chad Crockford of Charlotte, finished just one second slower. Ryan Burris, 20, of New Lexington, Ohio, was third place, in 17:55.

The top three women were: Nelly Anderson, 21, of Staunton, Va. (20:23); and a pair of Matthews 16-year-olds, Arden Mattachini and Emily Costa (both 20:48).

For full results, click here.

Former 'fat kid' about to become a marathoner

Lorri Elliott is a flight nurse for Carolinas HealthCare System. Been one for 15 years. Loves it. Always has, and wants to continue doing the job for as long as she can.

This, in fact, is why the Matthews woman started running a year and a half ago, just before her 51st birthday. She'd ballooned to 225 pounds after going through a painful divorce, and was worried that her weight and physical condition were in danger of -- literally -- grounding her.

Since then, Lorri (now 52) is happier and healthier than ever. She knows she'll never have blazing speed, but since October 2008 she's taken almost 10 minutes off of her 5K times; she's fallen in love with triathlons; and a week from Sunday, she'll tackle her first 26.2-mile race: the inaugural Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary.

Lorri Elliott with her 19-year-old son Nicholas.

Q. How did you get involved in running?

A few years ago, I was accepted into CHS's LiveWELL Warriors, a weight-loss program that focuses on lifestyle changes with food and exercise. I did well, but still had a lot of weight I wanted to lose. I continued to work with Kelly Roberts, a LiveWELL specialist, but really struggled to lose more weight. So Kelly suggested that I “kick it up” and increase my exercise. In September of 2008, just before my 51st birthday, I enrolled in a running class sponsored by LiveWELL and managed by a professional coach, Jen Frank of Athleticore Coaching. We started running one minute and walking four, for four cycles. The next week, we went to running two minutes and walking three minutes. By the end of six weeks, I ran the entire HopeBuilders 5K race. It took me 43:40, but I didn’t care. Just finishing the race having run the entire time was an outrageous feeling of accomplishment. Having always been the “fat kid,” I never thought I could run, let alone do a race. I was on top of the world.

Q. So what happened next?

After completing the Hopebuilders 5K, I realized how much I had accomplished for a woman of my age and weight. I wanted to see if I could improve and see where the fitness improvement would take me. Before I started the class, I never thought I could participate in a sporting event like a 5k race, so now that I had and been successful, I wanted to do more. Luckily, LiveWELL continued the running program and I decided to continue as well. I continued to sign up for classes with a woman I met in the first class named Joie Tavener. They each lasted about six weeks, and at the end we’d complete the 5K race associated with the class -- always improving our time. Having a running buddy really helps because you are more accountable.

Q. How much weight have you lost?

I got down to 208 on my own, before I started running, just by doing some random walking and working out. Since I started running, I have lost 14 more pounds.

Q. Are you happy just to be out there being active and being healthy, or are you determined to get faster?

Improving is important to me. I will never be competitive, but I still want to continue to improve and get stronger.

Q. You've shown some pretty good improvement so far, haven't you?

I have! Like I said, at the Hopebuilders 5K in October 2008, my first race, I ran 43:40. At the Cupid’s Cup 5K in February 2009, I improved to 37:34. At this past Cupid’s Cup, last month, I finished in 33:48. Improving so much is unusual for the average 20-year-old, but for an over-50, overweight female, it makes sense when you're learning to run and having fun doing so.

Q. Tell me how you got involved in triathlons.

Last spring, one of my co-workers also started training with (my Athleticore coach) Jen Frank, and he completed a triathlon. He then came to me and challenged me to try to do the Lake Norman Triathlon held Aug. 23, 2009. I actually told him he was on crack, but decided I could do it when Jen stated “I’ll coach you!” I talked Joie into the training, and together we trained six days a week for 10 weeks. Sometimes that was only a half an hour; sometimes it was several hours a day. Our goal was to complete the race, which we did. By the end of training, I’d lost five pounds and one percent of my body fat, my body mass index dropped one point, and I lost three inches from my hips. I went on to also do the Take Flight Triathlon in October.

Q. What do you enjoy more, running road races, or triathlons?

I really enjoy it all, but I lean toward the triathlons. It’s fun to break up the activities -- if you’re poor in one sport, you can overcome in another. And the people who participate in triathlons are special. They come in all sizes and abilities and are extremely supportive. They actually have categories such as the “Clydesdales,” for men over 200 pounds, and the “Athenas,” for women over 150 pounds. I, naturally, am in the “Novice” class.

Q. What's your goal for Tobacco Road?

My goal, as with anytime I try a new type of race, is to finish on my feet with a smile. Joie and I will be running together. Although she now is much faster than me, for the marathon we have talked about the fact that we are going at our practiced marathon pace in order to have the stamina to finish.

Q. What do you think is next for you after Tobacco Road?

Good question. I would like to improve my triathlon, try the trail version of triathlons -- mountain bike, trail run, open water swim -- and maybe do the Virginia Beach Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon (in September). Not sure I want to tackle a marathon again, but it’s too soon to tell.

Q. Do you regret that you didn't start running earlier in your life?

I hate to regret anything, although there are things that I do regret. Yes, I regret not taking the opportunities to be in good physical shape earlier in life. But things do happen for a reason -- I am sure that my running is one of those things. Fortunately, unlike other runners at my age, I still have well-working knees!

Q. And I hear that you're now “giving back”?

Yes. I am now a mentor for a women’s running class. While participating in the running classes, I noticed that women would come to the class and because there were few other beginning runners, they would run just with one of the coaches. They rarely returned. They felt uncomfortable because of their weight, age or lack of ability to run. So with my idea, Jen started the “Ladies in Motion” class through LiveWELL. This class supports women who want to learn to run or even just walk with other women looking to be more active. We learn about clothing -- we big ladies need assistance with our supportive clothing -- hydration, shoes, and nutrition. Mentoring doesn’t pay me a thing, but I feel good knowing I have encouraged other women to become more active and improve their lives.

Do positive things happen to positive people?

Progress is a beautiful thing.

Check this out: A year ago, at the 2009 Alston + Bird Corporate Cup half-marathon, right around Dilworth Neighborhood Grille near the 12th mile marker, I stopped ... and walked. Felt like a loser. Watched as my friend Holly hustled up the hill. After a minute or two, I struggled up Morehead and finished in 1:52:02.

This morning, at the 2010 running of the same race, right around Dilworth Neighborhood Grille near the 12th mile marker, I took off. Felt like a champ. Hustled up the hill, passing several guys ... who looked a lot like I did a year ago. Made the turn onto Tryon Street, kicked to a 1:36:44. Eighty-fourth out of 770 participants.

What's the difference? I mean, obviously, I'm a better runner than I was this time a year ago. I've trained harder, I've trained smarter, I've picked up the intensity when I've felt good, I've backed off when I've felt bad. I have a lot more race experience.

But there's another secret. If you can call it a secret. Maybe just call it One to Grow On. A lesson. A good thing to bear in mind. And this is going to sound corny. Except it's true. Whenever I race, I try to surround myself with positive energy.

Let's talk about this a little bit. See, when it comes to races, there are plenty of things that are out of your control. You can't control the weather (although today's was perfect). You can't control the course layout (Corporate Cup is always gonna be hilly). There's not much you can do about a head cold, and you never can guess exactly how last night's dinner might sit in your stomach.

You have complete control, however, over your attitude, and over how you carry yourself. If you have a great attitude, little boosts of energy are sprinkled all throughout the racecourse. They're there for the taking, these little boosts -- and they're every bit as useful as the GUs in your pocket or the fluids at the water stations.

Some basic tenets that I live by when racing:

If you're settling into a groove and you've been running next to the same person for a few minutes, make small talk. "What're you shooting for today?" "Has it really only been 5 miles??" "Who put this hill here?" Anything. If they blow you off, move on, or let them move on. Chances are good, though, that they won't. A little small talk can go a long way toward making the miles go by faster. Boost.

Say thank you. Sure, the cops are getting paid by the race organizer, but their job is to protect you from motorists, and by and large, they do a darn good job. And volunteers are, well, volunteers. They don't get a cent. They're there basically acting as your personal servant, handing you a cup of Gatorade or bending down to pull off your timing chip. The least you can do is acknowledge their presence! I feel good every time I say the words "Thank you" (and I say them a lot), mainly because I'm pretty sure these people don't hear them often enough. Another boost.

Make a connection with the spectators and "cheerleaders." Let me preface these next remarks by admitting that I may appear to have an unfair advantage when it comes to feeding off crowds. A lot of people in the Charlotte running community know me because of this blog, and so I tend to hear my name being called out fairly frequently during local races. But there's an easy way to level the playing field: Write your name or a nickname in big bold letters on your shirt, or on something you pin to your shirt, or on your body, in magic marker. This is advice commonly given to marathoners; I say do it for races of ANY distance. Hearing your name will give you a boost, whether or not you know the person who's calling it out. I mean, 75 percent of the time I have no idea who's shouting for me. Also, making eye contact with spectators (and police officers, and volunteers), smiling at them, waving at them = boost. Because they will smile back, they will wave back. Boost, again. (Bonus boost for giving high fives to small children.)

Plenty of you have probably read advice like this before and appreciate the sentiment, but just haven't made it a priority. I'm sure there are also some of you thinking to yourselves, These things are a waste of time and energy, and I don't have any to spare out there. Or maybe you're just an introvert. But it pays to follow these bits advice, to loosen up, to at least pretend -- for as long as the race lasts, at least -- to be an extrovert. It really does. I promise you.

I love that I set a half-marathon PR this morning by almost 11 minutes (previous best was a 1:47:39 at ING Atlanta last March), and it was a big confidence booster as I prepare for the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon two weeks from Sunday, in Virginia Beach.

But I'm actually more proud of the fact that instead of struggling to get through it today, like I did last year, I crossed the finish line feeling absolutely, positively energized. By the other runners I talked with along the way, by the men and women in blue who waved back, by the volunteers who said "Good job!," by the families on their lawns who I exchanged smiles with.

Today I covered 13.25 miles, since I didn't quite hit all the tangents. My average pace for the first 12 miles was 7:25ish, and I think that's due to my training. But I'm giving credit for the 6:58 pace on Mile 13 and the 6:00 pace on the last quarter-mile to the people I connected with along the way.

Jinnie Austin and I about to cross the timing pad at the 8.1-mile mark. Photo by Paul Mainwaring.

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AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Top three overall men in the half-marathon: Jason Holder, 26, of Charlotte (1:15:29); Kevin Lisska, 30, of Tega Cay (1:16:55); Billy Shue, 26, of Charlotte (1:17:58). 756 half-marathon finishers. Top three overall women in the half-marathon: Alice Rogers, 31, of Charlotte (1:24:05); Danielle Walther, 28, of Charlotte (1:24:52); Michelle Hazelton, 26, of Charlotte (1:29:27). There were 756 half-marathon finishers. For full results, click here.

Top three overall women in the 5K: Stephanie Snyder, 22, of Charlotte (20:11); Holly John, 32, of Indian Trail (20:14); Despina Kabouris, 27, of Matthews (21:03). Top three overall men in the 5K: Will Raby, 19, of Charlotte (15:46); Trent Kirk, 33, of Charlotte (16:22); Seth Huffstetler, 32, of Charlotte (16:52). There were 879 5K finishers. For full results, click here.

John Compton, Ben Hovis and Daniel Matena won the men's half-marathon relay with a time of 1:09:25, beating 13 other teams. Val Matena, Megan Hepp Hovis and Maureen Campbell won the women's half-marathon relay with a time of 1:20:11, beating 10 other teams. Chris Jones, Todd Mayes and Grace Ridley won the mixed half-marathon relay with a time of 1:19:28, beating 19 other teams. For full results, click here.

Odds + ends for my running friends

Several interesting nuggets to pass along on this beautiful late-winter evening:

UPCOMING RACES:

The Elizabeth 8K Road Race is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, April 17, at Independence Park (300 Hawthorne Lane). The event is in its 24th year, making it the oldest 8K race in Charlotte. Cost is $25 in advance, $30 on race day. Proceeds benefit the beautification of the Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood.
There’s also a 3K Run/Walk ($10) and a Fun Run for kids 6 and younger (free). The first male and female finishers will each receive a 90-minute gift certificate to Breathe Organic Massage and a $75 gift certificate to Asana Activewear. After the race, there’ll be live music, yoga sessions, chair massage, and – wait for it – free beer from Anheuser-Busch. For details, click here.

NC Water For People invites you to participate in the inaugural Water For People 5K Fun Run/Walk on Saturday, May 8, at McAlpine Creek Greenway (8711 Monroe Road). Start time is 9 a.m. Prizes for the top three men's and women's times. Water For People "assists people in developing countries to improve quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and hygiene education programs." Registration is $25 in advance, $30 on race day. Register here.

Then on Saturday, May 22, there's the 3rd Annual Thin Mint Sprint 5K, which allows runners to dash through Carowinds theme park on the N.C./S.C. border. Cost is $20, and proceeds benefit the Girl Scouts Hornets’ Nest Council. Note that the race starts at 7:15 a.m.; there's also a 1-mile Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. ($15). All race participants receive a Thin Mint Sprint T-shirt, and age-group winners will take home a box of Girl Scout cookies (Thin Mints, of course). Participants will also be able to purchase discounted tickets to the park. All the info you need should be here.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:

The Charlotte Running Club, which has worked hard to shed its image as a group of elite runners, is looking for people to lead pace groups in the 9-minute- to 11-minute-per-mile range -- and the CRC couldn't be making it any easier for you. Writes board member Jay Holder: "All you need to do is let us know when you run, where you run and how far you run. You don't have to change your schedule, or place. We'll post it in our newsletter and put it on our Web site. Maybe you'll get 10 runners, maybe it will just be you and your tunes. But we want to have as many options as we can for our members." If you're interested, send an e-mail to run.charlotte@gmail.com.

The Charlotte Track & Triathlon Club will host the 21st annual Brown Cup Award ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille (Morehead and McDowell streets on the edge of uptown). The Brown Cup was inspired by Donnie Brown, a Charlotte resident and former elite triathlete who beat leukemia back in 1989 and to this day advocates for the type of bone marrow donor program that saved his life. The award will be presented to a local athlete “who, while overcoming adversity, has shown dedication, determination, discipline and sportsmanship during the past year in their quest for personal improvement.”

Charleston's Cooper River Bridge Run, which will be the first major U.S. race to use a timing device attached to the bib, is on pace to sell out its 38,500 spots. Race is March 27. Note for procrastinators: Registration increases from $30 to $40 this weekend. For more info, click here.

Got other running-news tips to pass along? Or have ideas for future features? E-mail me at tjanes@charlotteobserver.com.

Alana Hadley getting into the school spirit

Just putting the finishing touches on a story about Alana Hadley, a seventh-grader who regularly competes against -- and beats -- the majority of adult runners when she runs a local race. (The article will appear in the Charlotte Observer later this month.)

This spring, though, the 13-year-old phenom will be picking on girls her own age: If all goes according to plan, she'll be running multiple meets as a member of the Community House Middle School track team.

"I was sort of interested in it last year, when I was gonna go and do one of my workouts and [the team] happened to be finishing up track tryouts that day," says Alana, who has a 5K road PR of 17:32. "And so I was just sort of watching 'em [and thought] I’d like to do that because it involves running, which is something I love to do. So I started thinking about it. I’m like, 'Yeah, I don’t know, I have to wait till next year,' " since sixth-graders can't compete for the team.

"And then I sort of lost interest in it until ... I did the mile run for PE at the beginning of the year," says Alana, who is a 5K and 10K specialist. "I know the mile hurts, and I know that this is what I’d be doing if I do track, but it just would be sort of fun to sort of let my school know that I’m not just some seventh-grade girl -- I can run a lot."

Her father and coach, Mark Hadley, tells me Community House's athletic director Jeff Smith and the girls track coach are "thrilled that Alana wanted to run, and they figured that Alana would need to do her own workouts and not something that they directed. But she would still go to practice and do the couple-lap jog and stretching together as a team, then she would stay at practice and help the coach with the timing of the other kids. And then after practice, she’d come home and then do her normal workout with me afterward. So it was a good compromise that we were able to work out."

Mark and Alana Hadley, after the Winter Flight 8K in Salisbury, where she was the second-fastest female finisher.

Anyway, as soon as I know exactly when my profile on Alana will run, I'll let you know...

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Corporate Cup will runneth over Charlotte

It seems like there's a 5K somewhere in or around Charlotte every weekend, sometimes two or three.

But half-marathons? They're pretty scarce around here. And that's unfortunate, because 13.1 is a great distance: It's serious enough to feel like an accomplishment, but doesn't require the punishing training of a full marathon (or a long, painful post-race recovery).

So excitement is understandably building for the Alston & Bird LLP Corporate Cup on Saturday; the event features a 5K and the first half-marathon to be hosted in our area since the Amica Insurance Half Marathon held in conjunction with Thunder Road this past Dec. 12.

The deadline has passed to assemble a team of co-workers to compete for the Corporate Cup, but there's still a week and a half left to register for the two races (or the team half-marathon relay).

YCommunity special events director Erin Morris gave us some details on this event, which has been around for 31 years and is the largest race within the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

PARTICIPATION: Morris says they're expecting 2,600 participants. ... The number of corporate teams participating is up from 31 in 2009 to 37 this year. ... At last check, there were 126 relay participants registered. (Half-marathon relay teams will feature three runners; two of them cover 5-mile legs and one covers 5K.) ... The 5K, half-marathon and half-marathon relay races all start at 8 a.m.

THE HILLS: Charlotte's half-marathons are notoriously hilly, and Corporate Cup is no exception. Morris says "this course offers medium hills. There are two tough ones -- by the Providence/Queens area and then by Myers Park -- and the gradual one on Morehead that seems tough because it is Mile 12. ... I would rate our course about a 7 (on a difficulty scale of 1 to 10)."

POST-RACE FOOD: Treats and drinks from Bruegger's Bagels, Zoe's Kitchen, Caribou Coffee, Cookies by Design, Energy Café, Dilworth Coffee, Great Harvest Bread Company, Smoothie King, BJ’s and Trader Joe’s. No post-race beer at this one, FYI.

SHIRTS/AWARDS: The race tees are short-sleeved and cotton, with a small pocket logo on the front (unlike last year's, which had a huge logo on the front). ... All half-marathon finishers will receive a medal. Overall and age-group winners will get trophies; the top overall corporate team will receive a Cup-type trophy.

VOLUNTEERS: Morris says volunteers are still needed for the event: "Getting volunteers is a struggle, simply for the amount of people needed. For instance, this race has 200 various 'jobs' for volunteers. Events like this would not be possible without volunteers. We are grateful for their help, and will be sure to take care of them race day. Our volunteers receive a long sleeve T-shirt, breakfast and snacks throughout the day." If you're interested, contact Emily Ratliff at 704-716-6407 or emily.ratliff@ymcacharlotte.org.

CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES: Proceeds from the Corporate Cup support the following YMCA of Greater Charlotte programs: Starfish Academy (literacy program for rising first- and second-graders); Strengthening Families (social workers who work with more than 150 families to bring them from various stages of crisis to stability); and English as a Second Language courses.

NEW THIS YEAR: Alston & Bird has partnered with the Arts & Science Council and the organization Eat Charlotte to offer Corporate Cup participants special discounts at uptown museums, restaurants and cultural destinations.

For more information on the Alston & Bird LLP Corporate Cup, click here. Registration is $30 for the 5K, $45 for the half-marathon, and $70 for relay teams. Race-day registration will also be available ($35/$55/$75). To register, click here.

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