The 2017 Runners Marathon of Reston on Sunday was paced by 20-year-old Ben Connelly.

Connelly, a club runner at the University of Virginia, took the 26.2-mile race in a time of 2 hours, 51 minutes and 57 seconds. He was the only runner to complete the course in under 3 hours.

We are just now receiving word that Ben Connelly is your 2017 Reston Marathon CHAMPION!!!

— Club Running at UVA (@UVaClubRunning) April 9, 2017

The rest of the male Top 5 included Robert Young (3:01:10), Erick Kuhlmann (3:03:06), David Simons (3:03:15) and Scott Melchior (3:05:05).

The winner of the women’s marathon was Kacey Gibson, an assistant coach for the Christopher Newport University running team. The 27-year-old completed the course in just under 3 hours and 17 minutes.

https://twitter.com/CNUXC/status/851242350684889089

The rest of the female Top 5 included Alexandra Peterson (3:23:20), Paulina Campbell (3:23:31), Sam Kubica (3:24:09) and Erica Cline (3:37:30).

The half-marathon winners were Alexander Hetherington (1:21:17) and Brittany Leuenberger (1:28:25). Relay winners were “Team Fantastic Four” (3:25:10).

Take a look at the full marathon results, half-marathon results and relay results.

Race proceeds go to the Reston Runners Community Fund, designed to support the Reston community by providing scholarships to area student-athletes and financial support for athletic programs.

Photo of Connelly crossing the finish line via Runners Marathon of Reston/Facebook

Between Founder’s Day on Saturday and the Runners Marathon of Reston on Sunday, this is a big weekend for major events in Reston.

But even if you want to stay away from the big Founder’s Day crowd and long-distance running doesn’t sound like a fun time for you, there are plenty of other ways you can enjoy yourself this weekend.

Here is just a sampling of what’s going on in the Reston area in the next couple days.

• Saturday at Lake Anne Plaza, Founder’s Day will mark Reston’s 53rd anniversary. The festivities will take place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and will include fun for the whole family. Make sure to check out the full schedule.
• The Runners Marathon of Reston will have runners all over South Reston from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. There are still a few slots open for registration, and volunteers are also still needed.
• Benefitting the Friends of Reston, the Nature House 5K run/walk will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive). The course mostly consists of paved walkways in neighborhoods as well as pathways at the Nature Center and through Glade Stream Valley Park.
• Two concerts are scheduled for Sunday at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) at Reston Community Center. Trout Fishing in America will be performing at 3 p.m., with Dana and the Glorious Birds going on stage at 7. Tickets for the first show are $5 for Reston residents and $10 for non-residents; tickets for the evening show are $15 for Reston residents and $20 for non-residents.
• NextStop Theatre Company (269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon) is performing “Boeing, Boeing” through April 30. Performances this weekend are tonight at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m., along with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets are $35-$55.
• Events at Reston Town Center this weekend include wine tasting at Il Fornaio (11990 Market St.) on Saturday and Zumba in the pavilion on Sunday.
• The opening reception for “First Blooms” by artist Dorothy Donahey at Reston Art Gallery and Studios (11400 Washington Plaza W.) will be Sunday from 2-4 p.m.
• The drama department at Herndon Middle School (901 Locust St.) will present “Romeo & Juliet” tonight at 7 p.m., and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10.
• At Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive), there will be a showing of kids’ movie “Open Season” and a young-adult writing workshop on Saturday.
• A bird walk is scheduled for the Twin Branches Nature Trail from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday. No pre-registration is required for the free activity.
• “There’s No Place Like Home” will end its exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon (750 Center St.) on Saturday.
• Kalypso’s (1617 Washington Plaza N.) will have live music tonight, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., from Revelator Hill featuring Bobby Thompson. DJ Kram will play Top 40 hits Saturday night.
• There will be a dance from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday at Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road). Dancers of all skill levels are welcome to foxtrot, swing, cha-cha and waltz. Cost is $5 for Reston residents and $10 for non-residents.

Runners Marathon of Reston is Sunday — Some volunteers are still needed for the Runners Marathon of Reston, which will be held Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in South Reston. There are still a few slots available for runners as well. Drivers are reminded to be on the lookout for runners on roads including South Lakes Drive, Soapstone Drive, Lawyers Road and Sunrise Valley Drive. [Reston Now]

Brew House, Kiln & Co. Collaborating for Event — Kiln & Co. will officially open its pottery and custard shop at Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday during Founder’s Day. Tonight, however, it will be part of a special event at Lake Anne Brew House. Special beer and custard combinations will be served. [Lake Anne Brew House/Facebook]

Nats’ Opening Week Celebration at Reston Town Center — Fans are invited to get a picture with one of the Washington Nationals’ Racing Presidents today from 3-6 p.m., and special Happy Hour deals will be available at American Tap Room when the game starts at 3. [Reston Town Center/Facebook]

Open House Set for Preschool — Bright Horizons at Commerce Metro Center (11400 Commerce Park Drive) will host an open house event April 17-20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Parents are invited to learn about what the school has to offer their children. [Bright Horizons]

Proposed Changes to South Lakes Fairfax Connector Schedule — The public is invited to give its feedback on a series of proposed changes to the Fairfax Connector schedule and routes in the county. One of the proposals is listed as “minor schedule adjustments to address crowding issues associated with ridership to and from South Lakes High School” on Route 551. [Fairfax County]

What are you doing this Sunday (April 9)? May I suggest grabbing a cup of coffee and heading down to cheer on the people running in the Runner’s Marathon of Reston? It’s a hard and hilly course (so I’m told), and the runners love the boost from the crowd. Here is a link to the map.

Maybe spending some time along the Reston trails will inspire you to run or walk on them. To me, the 55 miles of footpaths that Reston Association maintains are one of the defining features of Reston.

The trails cover every neighborhood in Reston, and walking, running or biking them is a great way to get to know the community. RA has maps on their website, or you can use the wonderful interactive map Fairfax County has of all the paths. I like this tool because it lets you plan your route before you head out. Here are a few of my favorite walks about town — but don’t stop with these.

• Town Center to Lake Anne, North Reston. This walk is just shy of 1.5 miles and winds through a few of Central Reston’s original neighborhoods — Coleson Cluster and Hickory Woods. It’s fun to start at Lake Anne, grabbing breakfast at the Lake Anne Coffee House and shopping at the Farmers Market (starting in early May and going through December), then walking up to Town Center for lunch.
• Lake Thoreau Loop, South Reston. This loop is just over 2 miles and circles around charming Lake Thoreau and past the Reston Regional Golf Course. Begin and end your loop at South Lakes Village with a coffee or delicious lunch at Red’s Table or Café Sano.
• North Point Loop, North Reston. This is a 4-mile loop for those who want a little more exercise. This trail is great because it really gives you a sense of the North Point community. I recommend starting at Lake Newport pool. These trails take you through several charming neighborhoods, and you’ll notice an abundance of RA pools and tennis courts (in fact, if you do this in the summer, pop into one of the pools for a refreshing dip). After your brisk walk, cross the street over to North Point Village for coffee, ice cream or lunch!
• Walker Nature Education Center and Glade, South Reston. There are many options for a walk from here. From the Center, follow the trailhead and see where it takes you! There is a short loop (probably 1/2 mile), or you can venture off on the RA path that follows Glade. Whatever you choose, you will feel like you are miles from civilization. It’s a wonderful place to recharge.
• Tall Oaks to Lake Fairfax Park, North Reston. I’m not entirely sure how long this walk is, but the park loop takes about half an hour — longer if you’re with a dog who needs to investigate all the great smells. Park at Tall Oaks Village Center, cross under the underpass and head toward the wooden bridge. When you hit a dirt trailhead, take a left and follow the trail into Lake Fairfax Park. You’ll cross a little creek and then the path opens to what is a large loop. Go left or right and just follow it around. It’s a gorgeous walk in the woods! Just be careful — mountain bikers train here. They’re very courteous, but they’re also usually going pretty fast!

What you’ll soon find is you can have any type of walk or run you want in Reston — relaxing and easy, or very challenging. And you can get anywhere you need or want to go on foot. It’s always fun to discover a new trail and see where it takes you.

The 2017 Runners Marathon of Reston is scheduled for Sunday, April 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Race proceeds go to the Reston Runners Community Fund, designed to support the Reston community by providing scholarships to area student-athletes and financial support for athletic programs.

The marathon course traverses Ridge Heights Road, Soapstone Drive, Sunrise Valley Drive, Twin Branches Road, Lawyers Road, Steeplechase Drive and South Lakes Drive, as well as portions of Reston’s trail system. Marathoners will circle the 13-mile course twice.

In addition to the marathon, a half-marathon and marathon relay will also be run. Organizers say about 700 runners in total are registered, representing 20 states. Runners from as far away as Hawaii are registered to participate.

In addition, nearly 250 community members — including Reston Runners club members, Boy Scouts and more — will be helping along the route, as well as in the days leading up to and following the event. Anyone interested in signing up as a volunteer will get a long-sleeved T-shirt, a commemorative glass and other thank-you items.

No roads are scheduled to be closed, with runners expected to stay within coned-off sections of roads along the course. However, police reserve the right to close roads for safety as needed.

Map courtesy Reston Runners

Attention south Reston residents: The Runners Marathon (and Half Marathon) of Reston takes place Sunday, April 10. The course will affect certain streets early Sunday.

Here is what you need to know:

Both races begin at South Lakes High School at 7:30 a.m.

The race starts and ends on the SLHS track and will utilize some Reston Association trails.

Affected streets:

• South Lakes Drive
• Ridge Heights Road
• Sunrise Valley Drive
• Twin Branches Drive
• Soapstone Drive
• Lawyers Road
• Colts Neck Road
• Steeplechase Drive

Note: There are already signs warning there is no parking on Ridge Heights from Sunday at 1 a.m. to Sunday at 1 p.m. You could be ticketed or towed.

Streets will not be completely closed, but lanes will be blocked and traffic could be slowed.

All roads will reopen by 1:30 p.m., race officials said.

For more race information, visit the Runners Marathon website.

Photo: Runners Marathon 2015/file photo

One of Reston’s premier athletic events takes place on Sunday as the third annual Runners Marathon of Reston hits the streets of South Reston.

Registration for the Reston Runners-sponsored event is closed, but the course could slow traffic on Reston roads.

Here is what you need to know if you are participating, watching or just trying to get around Reston on Sunday:

The marathon and half marathon both begin at 7:30 a.m. at South Lakes High School.

Packet pickup is at SLHS on Saturday from 12:00 – 6:30 p.m. and beginning at 6 a.m. on race day. There is also a pre-race dinner at SLHS from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday (Cost: $10).

The full marathon is a certified course and times can be used as a Boston Marathon qualifier.

The course will be on Reston roads, as well as trails. Some of the streets affected include Ridge Heights Road, Sunrise Valley Drive, Soapstone Drive, Twin Branches Road, Steeplechase Drive, South Lakes Drive, Colts Neck Road and Lawyers Road.

The 13.1-mile half-marathon course map and the 26.3-mile marathon course map are available on the Runners Marathon website.

Affected roads will not be closed, but lanes could be blocked and that may slow traffic.

The streets of south Reston will be filled with hundreds of runners early Sunday for the second annual Runners Marathon (and Half Marathon) of Reston.

Registration is now closed. If you are running the race, surely you have your logistics all mapped out. But if you live nearby or plan to watch, here are some things to know:

The race begins at 7:30 a.m. at South Lakes High School. The Half Marathon begins at 8 a.m.

Streets such as South Lake Drive, Ridge Heights Road, Sunrise Valley Drive and Glade Drive, among others, will be affected. Roads will not completely close, but lanes will be sectioned off and traffic will be slowed until the course is cleared at 1:30 p.m.

See a complete course map here.

Sunday’s weather: Rainy. Low of 32. High of 55.

Some of the best spectator locations:

• South Lakes Village Center: After miles 3 and 15.5. The shopping center is on South Lakes Drive, about 0.8 miles east of the high school. Park in the shopping center lot.
• Hunter Woods Pool:  Just before miles 7 and 20 (about 2.6 miles from the high school). The pool parking lot is at the end of Steeplechase Drive.
• Corner of Glade Drive and Colts Neck Road: Just after miles 8 and 20.5 for the full marathon or about 7.4 miles for the half marathon (about 2 miles from the high school).
• South Lakes Drive Park:  Just before miles 11.5 and 24. Runners will emerge from the south on a path just west of the park, and cross under South Lakes Drive (to the north side) using a tunnel.

By the numbers:

About 268 marathoners and 471 half marathoners are registered. They hail from 30 states, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Brazil. There are 366 men and 373 women in the
field. Over 146 participants are running their first full or half marathon.

Volunteers will be busy hauling 10,000 cups to the race site; driving a golf cart to mark six miles of
course with 250 pounds of lime; distributing 250 volunteer shirts; unloading 800 gallons of water at the aid stations; placing 750 cones on the road out the back of a truck; assembling 180 awards with labels and frames; and snapping, organizing, and posting 1,734 photos of the race.

For more information, visit the Runners Marathon of Reston Participant and Spectator Guide.

There is still space in the Runners Marathon of Reston, which returns on March 30.

The race was founded last year by Reston Runners, the local running club that was eager to have a marathon-distance race on Reston’s streets and trails. It is the only Northern Virginia marathon (the Marine Corps starts and ends on Virginia, but the course goes through the District).

Here is what you need to know:

Registration for the half marathon is full. Registration for the full marathon will go through March 16 or when the field is fill.  To register, visit the marathon site.

The course starts and ends at South Lakes High School and involves Reston streets such as South Lakes Drive, Sunrise Valley Drive, Soapstone Drive, and several Reston Association paths.  Course Map.

Last year’s winning times were Lee Kaufman (men)  in 2:52:21 and Devin Nihill (women) in 3:09:49.

Race begins at 7:30 a.m. Reston Now will have more info about street blockages as race day gets closer.

Entry fee is $95.

Registration for the half marathon is full.

The race could use volunteers. Visit the volunteer page for more information.

Photo: Brian Kent Photography