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

Citizens Advisory Committee Meets Tonight — Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler is scheduled to speak at the Reston District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee meeting tonight. The committee will meet at 7 p.m. at the Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive). [Fairfax County Police Department/Twitter]

SLHS Indoor Track Records Set — Senior Devyn Jones (pictured) set a school record in the 55-meter hurdles (8.31 seconds) during the state indoor championships last weekend in Hampton. In addition, the team of Sophie Halkett, Aly Rayle, Jordan Anderson and Olivia Beckner set a school record in the 4×800 meter relay (9 minutes, 20.2 seconds). All five record-setters earned All-State honors, as did Sean Casey, Jack Eggeman, Mary Gregory, Stevie Jones, Alex Loukili, Timiebi Ogobri, Peter Sepulveda, Jack Watkins and Don’ta Whitley. [South Lakes High School]

Magnet Program Lottery Registration Underway — Parents wishing to enroll their students in the magnet program at Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, or other magnet programs in the county, must register their intention online. The lottery process began Monday and will end March 27, with the lottery itself to be held in early April. [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Running Women Welcome in Group — Registration is now underway for the 2017 Reston Runners Women’s Training Program. The group will meet every Monday from April 24 to June 12. The Reston Runners Women’s 5K is set for June 17. [Reston Runners]

Photo of Devyn Jones courtesy South Lakes High School track and field/Mary Ann Magnant

The Reston Runners have ended their tradition of gathering at Reston Town Center, citing parking fees that went into effect this week as the reason.

The local running club has long met at the Potomac River Running Store on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to begin their group runs. The store has served as something of a flagship for the group, as it even sells Reston Runners gear and gives discounts to members. The store also regularly sponsors some of the club’s events, such as the annual Runner’s Marathon of Reston.

However, now that Reston Town Center has begun charging for weekday parking, the club says it feels the fees would deter members from coming out. In response, they have decided to move their meeting location to Reston Sport and Health in Isaac Newton Square.

“For decades, Reston Town Center was a welcoming place where the community could gather freely,” Reston Runners member Dennis Hays told Reston Now. “We are saddened this is no longer the case.”

Hays said the club looks forward to continuing to partner with PRR for other events.

PRR has said it will validate one hour of parking to weekday customers who spend at least $20 in the store, and recently appealed to locals to continue supporting businesses such as theirs.

“We hope you’ll continue to support PR and shop local so that we can continue to create and expand the local walking and running community,” the store said on social media this week. “Getting active transforms lives — it would be a shame for parking get in the way.”

Hays said the club looks forward to its new partnership with Reston Sport and Health, and invites all to come out for their runs, scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the new location.

“All runners and walkers in the community, or just visiting the area, are welcome to participate,” he said.

Photo via RestonRunners.org

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Want to improve your running times?

The Reston Runners’ “10 Weeks to 10K Program” begins on Monday, July 18. The program culminates with the PRR Perfect 10K/10 Miler in Reston on Sunday, Sept. 25.

Says Reston Runners: “If you are looking for a fun, supportive, and informative program for men and women and you have the desire and experience to either move up from the 5K distance or improve your 10K time, this program can help you achieve your goals.”

The 10 Weeks to 10K program is designed and managed by certified coaches and is aimed at taking the runners already have and building on it to give them the endurance, speed, and confidence to complete a successful 10K or 10 miler, says Reston Runners.

Participants should have a minimum of 8-to-12 weeks of recent running or run/walk experience and the the capability of currently completing a 5K race. Training includes individual coaching support, as well as information on topics such as pacing, nutrition, cross training, and mental preparation.

Meetings are Monday evenings (6:30 p.m.) at Lake Fairfax Park. The Reston Runners also support a Tuesday and a Thursday evening run and walk/run from the Potomac River Running store in Reston starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday morning runs/walks at 8 AM are from various locations around Reston and feature marked courses so no one gets off track.

The cost for the 10 week Training Program is $45, which includes a program incentive, a training plan, and coaching assistance throughout the Program. In addition, we’ve negotiated a special Program Discount for the Perfect 10 race that we pass onto you when you register. Registration closes on Saturday.

For more information and online registration, visit Reston Runners’ website.

A little more than a year ago, Tim Cohn was an athlete who had completed 40 marathons.

Cohn, a scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, was training for the Boston Marathon when he found himself “feeling terrible” at about mile 19 on a 25-mile run.

“That was sort of a surprise,’ he said. “My doctor laughed about it. Nineteen miles? What are you complaining about?’ ” he said.

But the fatigue was not normal. Neither was Cohn’s bloodwork, which eventually showed Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), a rare blood cancer.

Knowing he would be fighting a big fight, Cohn resigned from his spot on the Reston Association Board, where he was one year into a three-year term representing North Point. During his tenure, Cohn served on the CEO Selection Committee and as board liaison to the Pedestrian & Bicycling, Transportation and Tennis advisory committees.

After the diagnosis in June 2014, Cohn had six rounds of chemotherapy. He says he is feeling pretty good now. He still takes oral medication daily, but says he has almost no side effects.

After losing large amounts of weight and strength, he is also returning to athletic form. He will participate in Sunday’s Lymphoma Research Ride, a cycling event in Montgomery County, Md., that will raise funds for lymphoma research.

“Biking’s not really my thing,” said Cohn. “But the ride is organized by my oncologist, Bruce Cheson, at Georgetown. I actually rode 25 miles in it last year too.”

Cohn says he was unable to do much exercise all through the summer and fall of 2014, but started training again by early 2015. He’s up to completing about a half-marathon distance again. He says that speed-wise, he is way off of peak form — but that it also doesn’t matter as much to him anymore.

“I’ve slowed down and enjoyed my runs more,” he said.

He says that starting out in good shape has helped him with the physical and mental effects of lymphoma.

“I think it has allowed doctors to give me whatever will work medically,” he said.

It was not running — which he did almost daily on Reston’s paths — that was a hard part of treatment, he added.

“I have been running all my life,” said Cohn. “Not running was a shock, and that really made me feel sort of unhealthy.”

Cohn says he is glad to be moving again since he is getting ready for another tough battle. The only full cure for MCL is a stem cell transplant, and Cohn plans to have one later this fall.

Specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering, a top cancer center in New York City, have identified two people who are matches for Cohn. He will be in New York for weeks, where doctors will essentially kill his immune system. But if all goes well, in six months to a year the process — and the illness — will be over for good.

Cohn says friends from Reston Runners, particularly fellow RA Board member Donna Rostant, have been extremely helpful and supportive. Friends have delivered food, accompanied him to doctor’s appointments and chemo and done other things to make his road easier.

“One thing about having cancer is lots of people I did not know who survived [cancer] have come forward and offered to do any number of things,” he said. “Having someone with me at doctor’s appointments has been good.”

Photo: Tim Cohn/Courtesy Reston Association

Women runners will hit the trails near the YMCA Fairfax County Reston Saturday, June 20 for the “Ladies Sizzle” Women’s Distance Festival 5K.

The annual race is the culmination of a season of training for the Reston Runners’ Women’s Training Program. Each spring, the low-cost WTP helps walkers become runners and runners become faster runners alongside other women in training.

The race, which begins at 8 a.m., is open to the entire community, though, and not just WTP members. Men are encouraged to volunteer to help make the race a success.

Advance registration is open through Wednesday, June 18 at midnight. You may also register at packet pickup Friday or on race day from 6 to 7 a.m. at the YMCA.

The entry fee is $35; $40 day of race.

The flat course mostly takes place on the W & OD trail and other paths, so it should not impact local roads. See the course map on the WTP website.

Packet pickup, race registration and race headquarters is at the YMCA Fairfax County Reston, 12196 Sunset Hills Rd.

Women’s Distance Festival/file photo

Want to start running or improve your running this spring?

Registration for Reston Runners 2015 Women’s Training Program is now open.

The Women’s Training Program is designed to help women jumpstart their spring fitness routine. Many women sign up year after year, moving from the beginning walking group to the run/walk group to an advanced running group. Each group has several coaches to guide and support runners.

The WTP is an eight week program that meets meeting Monday nights  at 6:30 p.m. beginning April 27.

The program offers guest speakers on topics such as fitness, stretching and shoes, followed by workouts at 7 p.m. on the nearby paths and the SLHS outdoor track.

This program costs $40 and includes a program technical shirt plus an end-of-season celebration on Monday, June 22.

Participants are encouraged to enter the Spring Into Summer Women’s Distance Festival 5K in Reston on June 20.

To register, visit the Women’s Training Program website.

File photo by Brian Kent

Vowed that this is the season you get out there and really run? Then sign up for the Reston Runners’ annual Women’s Training Program.

The Women’s Training Program is coached by women for women. It is a series of eight weekly sessions, and it is a great way for walkers and runners to enhance their spring training or embark on new goals.

Sessions take place on Monday evenings, May 5 through June 23, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at South Lakes High School (meetings begin in the cafeteria, followed by outdoor workouts with coaches).  There are guest speakers each week on topics such as running shoes, overall fitness and nutrition. Full speaker schedule.

This program is suitable for walkers, walk/runners, beginning runners, and advanced beginner runners. Each group is guided by experienced coaches who vary their workouts throughout the program.

The season culminates with the Women’s Distance Festival 5K at the YMCA Reston June 28.

The program fee is $40 fee, which includes a program technical shirt plus an end-of-season celebration on June 30.

If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected].

Photo by Brian Kent Photography