Area runners were at two main venues last weekend. On Oct. 11, there were a record 134 finishers in the fifth annual Grove Trotter Chickahominy River Bridge Run 10K and 5K, a large increase from the 91 who finished the previous year. The Colonial Road Runners Grand Prix race (the 14th of 2025) was organized by, and benefited the Grove Christian Outreach Center, and started and finished at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park.

Another record were the 54,351 finishers from 120 countries at the 47th annual Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, where Adam Otstot (2:30:55) and Emma Rogers (2:44:48) led the Colonial Road Runners contingent on the flat and fast world-record-caliber course. Other CRR finishers were Rob Perkinson (2:35:43), John Dyar (2:50:38), Christopher Minty (2:56:13), Aimee Gianoukos (3:25:21), Deelyn Robinson (3:28:55) and Jason Kirkpatrick (3:48:47).

Emma Rogers and Chris Minty at the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12. Emma finished in 2:44:48 and Chris finished in 2:56:13. Courtesy of Emma Rogers

The Chickahominy race is mostly flat, except for the Chickahominy River bridge hill (52 feet in elevation). Starting and finishing next to the park’s pool pavilion, the race turns onto the Virginia Capital Trail, crosses into Charles City County for out-and-backs for the 5K, and for the 10K. The 10K was a CRR Grand Prix event.

Brody Alford, a 15-year-old from Oxford, Miss., visiting the Historic Triangle for the weekend with his family, was an easy winner for the men, with a time of 38:19. Twenty seconds later were the two superstar CRR women, Dana Hayden, 49, of Powhatan (38:36) and Emily Honeycutt, 34, of Newport News (38:38). Hayden broke the state 10K record for women 45-49 two weeks earlier at the Democracy Dash 10K at Jamestown Island (38:25), and despite a much tougher course, came within 11 seconds of that state record time with her 38:36.

In between those two 10Ks, Hayden had broken the state record for 5K with an 18:33 on Oct. 4 at the Crawlin’ Crab 5K in Hampton (a race where Honeycutt was second in 18:45, the day before Honeycutt ran a PR 1:24:56 at the Crawlin’ Crab Half Marathon). Saturday also was Hayden’s 49th birthday.

Second through fourth for the men were Alexey Popov, 42, of Newport News (41:57), CRR vice president Dave Anderson (43:19) and Jordan Chapman, 37, of Williamsburg (44:48). Anderson was also the course certifier (VA-22027-RT) for the Chickahominy 10K, making the race eligible for state records. Third and fourth for the women were Tricia Murphy, 44, of Williamsburg (45:33) and Joanna McCandlish, 43, of Williamsburg (50:13).

Both Hayden and Honeycutt were below the previous women’s course record of 39:10, set by Honeycutt in 2024, with Honeycutt tying her lifetime 10K PR of 38:38. The men’s course record is 32:10 by Roger Hopper, 30, of Chesapeake at the 2021 race.

Breaking Chickahominy 10K age group records were Popov (men 40-44), Honeycutt (women 30-34), Murphy (women 40-44), and Hayden (women 45-49).

On an age graded basis, as compiled by CRR statistician Jim Gullo, Hayden bettered the national-class standard of 80% with her 83.54%. Honeycutt was above 75% with her 75.28%. Two others, men’s winner Alford (73.90%) and Anderson (71.61%) were above the regional-class level of 70%. A half dozen more were above 65%, Wendy Fite, 67, of Williamsburg (58:15, 69.24%), Ken Alberg, 64, of Suffolk (48:44, 69.13%), Frank Corbett, 74, of Williamsburg (54:58, 68.29%), Murphy (67.50%), Chris Abelt, 69, of Williamsburg (52:40, 67.18%) and Popov (66.34%).

A large part of the increased turnout this year was the participation of Tabb Elementary School students and their families. There were 32 males and 52 females finishing the 5K, with winners Rayshad Johnson, 30, of Arlington (21:50) and Rebecca Thayer, 44, of Hampton (28:10).

Alford’s mother Tracy texted, “We planned the family trip to Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown back in July knowing that they had five days off for fall break. We had never been to the area before and wanted to learn more about the history. We spent one day in each of the three towns going to the battlefields and the museums. It was Brody, his grandparents from Pennsylvania, his mom, dad and his nine-year-old sister. Brody started running track and cross country in sixth grade. His high school, Regents School of Oxford has won four state championships. His PRs are 11:08 for the 2 mile, and 17:39 for the 5K.”

Brody texted, “The course was really fun. On the way back, going up the bridge was the hardest part of the course. I ran alongside Emily for the first mile and then picked up the pace a little. Y’all’s running community is amazing! I had heard of the Grand Prix of races before, but never thought twice about it until now. Y’all have a passion for running and I love it!”

Murphy emailed, “It was nice to finally have a race morning where the air felt nice and cool, perfect for a fall race. With the start up the bridge it was hard to go my normal fast first mile, so I sprinted up the bridge as fast as I could (6:51). Dave caught me at a mile, instead of later in the race, so I tried to hold on with him, but was only able to do it for one mile before he pulled ahead (7:04). After the race Dave and I ran a cool-down few miles with Brody. Such a cool kid, visiting Williamsburg with his family. I sometimes take for granted what we have with our running community and he really made us realize how unique our area is.”

Hayden emailed, “It was great to see many familiar faces, as the Chickahominy River Bridge 10K was another first-time event for me. I was in great company on the course as well, running much of the 2nd half of the race together with Emily. The conditions were ideal for most, except for the wind off the bridge. My pacing was pretty even [mile splits were impressively even- 6:05, 6:10, 6:14, 6:14, 6:16, 6:14]. It was great to see so many of the community youth out there and to be part of such a well-organized event for a great cause.”

Honeycutt emailed, “I was surprised and pleased to tie my PR on this course which I find a little more difficult than the ERR course. I wasn’t sure how much my legs would have left in them to race after the Crawlin’ Crab 5K a week before and the Crawlin’ Crab Half Marathon 6 days before. Having Dana was super helpful because we worked together and I definitely would not have run that fast by myself.”

Otstot emailed about his Chicago Marathon: “My goal was to set a lifetime PR – under 2:27:23. I ended up running 2:30:55 which was 13th in the 40-44 age group with an 83.78% age grade. Last year in NYC, I had the same goal and ran 2:29:02, which was 6th 40-44 age group and 84.12% age graded.  Both races I was on pace to run a personal record, and both races I slowed in the last 6-7 miles and the goal time slipped away. So, yes, it has been a bit frustrating! As I get older, I am getting closer to coming to terms with the fact that a lifetime PR may now be out of reach, which is not easy for me to accept. Even though I didn’t reach or exceed my goal time, I’m proud of how I raced, and I did what I could. I have done four stand-alone marathons: Richmond 2013, Boston 2015, New York 2024, Chicago 2025. Currently I don’t know if I’ll do another marathon, but if I do, it will likely be another one of the World Marathon Majors.”

Clara Byrd Baker Elementary teacher Rogers emailed, “Going into Chicago I was hoping to PR (faster than 2:49) and thought I could run a 2:45. I ended up running 2:44 with a negative split for the second half. I placed 21st in my age group, and was 60th woman overall. NYC last year was my first marathon, and it was a lot different from Chicago. I raced it poorly–went out too fast–and the hills got me at the end. I had a huge positive split and insane quad cramps at the end. Chicago was much flatter and I went out more conservatively to ensure I didn’t hit the wall as hard at the end.”

Gianoukos emailed: My A goal was 3:19, B goal sub 3:25. I finished in 3:25:21. I was on track for 3:19 until mile 19 when I got nausea and it got worse and worse. My legs felt amazing, and amazing the day after the marathon, but the nausea (which had never happened in my past 12 marathons) was horrible so my goal after mile 20 was to finish. Still managed a 3 min PR.”

Rick Platt is president of Colonial Road Runners.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/10/17/crr-represented-at-area-10k-and-chicago-marathon/