Blaze Sweeps Through Midlo Village

A cool, crisp morning couldn’t deter 188 runners from setting the trails on fire in the 12th annual MidloBlaze 5K held Sunday in Midlothian Village. The event is an annual fundraiser for the Midlothian Volunteer Fire Department.

Runners, joggers and walkers alike hit the roads in a flat, fast course, designed to keep it accessible to both serious trainers and the recreational runner.

“The course was selected by Bill Lis [owner of Runner Bill’s Sports],” race director John Sharp said. “He was able to put together an exciting course through the village of Midlothian.”

The course has changed just once in the race’s 12-year history to make it just one loop and allowing for a start and finish in front of Runner Bill’s Sports. Competitors exit the Midlothian Station shopping center, bearing left on Coalfield Road and making a slight detour on Carriage Lane. Another series of right hand turns takes runners down Woolridge and Charter Colony parkways and the Midlothian Turnpike before ending at Runner Bill’s Sports shop. Organizers have also incorporated a kids’ fun run over the years, though many kids choose to go out with the adults to compete in a family category.

Top race finishers included Gerrit LaBuschagne in the overall male category and Elizabeth Craig in the overall female category, but the real winner was the MVFD.

Final numbers were not available by press time but, if last year’s numbers are any indication, race organizers are expecting to have raised nearly $5,000. According to Sharp money goes to the purchase and maintenance of equipment and has also helped to buy a new fire engine.

“It has grown to become one of Midlothian’s premier community events since it was started by Bill Lis and MVFD chief Les Lauziere 12 years ago,” Sharp said. “It’s just a really fun event.”

A link to complete race results can be found at http://www.rrrc.org/.