Garman completes toughest marathon
The third running of the National College Blue Ridge Marathon and half Marathon was held in Roanoke last Saturday, and several Craig County runners competed.
Senior Craig County distance runner Jake Garman joins current VT freshman Jody Martin as the only Rocket runners to complete both a half and full marathon before their graduation. Jake took the second place award of all runners under 20 years old of the 298 starters and was 82nd overall in a time of 4:15:21. The awards were presented by the legendary Bill Rodgers, who won both The Boston and New York City marathons four times each as well many other major national and international road races in the 1970′s and 1980′s
Also competing from Craig County in the full marathon was 43 year old James Secrist, who took 176th place in a time 4:55:01, and in the half marathon Kevin Gober (age 30) and Mary Ann Gober (age 38) placed 434th and 435th of the 515 starters of the 13.1 mile race. They clocked times of 3:05:23 and 3:05:28.
Billed as the nation’s toughest road marathon, the Blue Ridge Marathon boasts over 7,200 feet of elevation change from it’s start, south on Jefferson St. to the finish line near the Taubman Museum Of Art in downtown Roanoke. The (26.2 mile) marathon course climbs both Mill Mountain and the higher peak of Roanoke Mountain to it’s south, and then returns to the valley and the Peakwood Drive area southeast of town, which is yet another significant uphill section, before looping Wasena Park and back to the downtown finish.
The Craig County cross country team will be in action today with a meet at Glenvar High School.
