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Virginia > Varmint Half Marathon & 5K
Burkes
Garden,
VA
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Date
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Event
Details
One of Virginia's smaller half marathon events, the Varmint Half
Marathon & 5K usually welcomes approximately 200 runners each
year for the 13.1-mile and the 5K races combined, for a race that takes
participants on a loop course through the valley between two mountains
in this part of the state's Appalachian Mountains known to locals as
"God's Thumbprint," with plenty of trees
and farmland along the side of the road during the race and the green,
misty mountaintops in the distance.
The out-and-back race, which starts and finishes at the Burkes Garden
Community Center on Burkes Garden Road, got its name from a story
that's been passed down for generations in this small community that
sits about 3,000 feet above sea level, the highest valley in Virginia.
Decades ago, a coyote had run loose in the town, killing local
villagers' sheep and causing thousands of dollars in damage to gardens
and property.
Reportedly, big-game hunters were called in from out of
town to assist in the hunt for the "varmint," as the creature came to
be known, and they finally succeeded in hunting down and killing what
turned out to be a large coyote. The "varmint" (the name stuck) was
later stuffed and put on display in a local museum, and the awards for
the half-marathon -- as well as the male and female overall winners of
the 5K race -- bear the likeness of the sheep it hunted today.
Runners who feel up to the challenge of this race need to be ready for
both a high-elevation run and plenty of sun, as the 2008 running of the
race saw sunny, warm weather throughout the event. The course follows a
counter-clockwise loop along paved country roads, starting at the
community center on Burkes Garden Road and turning on East End Road --
where runners encounter the hillest stretch of the race -- and then
Banks Mill Road and Gose Mill Road before heading back onto Burkes
Garden Road. Just before the last mile or so of the race, there's a
quick out-and-back detour onto Litz Lane, and then it's on to the
finish line.
Race
Weather & Climate
Nestled in a valley among the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern
Virginia, the town of Burkes Garden typically experiences mild to
moderately warm weather conditions in the early summer season, and
relatively steady precipitation throughout the year. In June, average
monthly temperatures range between 74°F and 53°F, while
rainfall totals average around 4.26 inches for the month.
Fees
$20 for the half marathon, if registered before the day of the race
$15 for the 5K
$25 for the half marathon on the day of the race
$20 for the 5K
Registration
Online registration for the summer 2009 running of the Varmint Half
Marathon is now closed, as the event has completed. Please check back
later for updated information on how to register for the 2010 running
of the event.
Website
www.runtricities.org
Course Map
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Share
Your Race Story
Ever run in Burkes Garden's annual Varmint Half
Marathon?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Varmint Half
Marathon & 5K
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