It was our women running group's annual Halloween outing when my friend, Ann Robb, and I, Sharon Farinholt, found ourselves jogging beside one another. Ann was dressed as a go-go girl, and I was dressed as a scarecrow. As one can well imagine, we were quite a sight running through the streets of Winchester.

It was during this run that the idea of hosting a Half Marathon in Winchester was born. Ann and I both run half marathons and marathons but always have to travel to do them. We pictured runners winding their way through Winchester and of course, the fun party afterwards and decided that this could become a reality.

Voila! The birth of the Winchester Half Marathon! Now we just needed to convince the City of Winchester and the county of Frederick to welcome our new arrival with enthusiasm. Much to our delight, they did!

The area was already developing the Green Circle, which is a fitness trail that will eventually circumference the City of Winchester. So it seemed only natural that as runners ourselves, we would want to help make this trail become a reality. Needless to say, the city was very excited that we would want to have the Green Circle as the beneficiary of our race.

Designing the course has been a challenge but an exciting one. We wanted to be sure to make it attractive to many runners and friendly to our area drivers. With the help of the city, we were able to create a course that met both needs.

Ann and I soon realized that directing a race of this magnitude would need more time than the two of us alone could offer. It was with this realization that we brought Harriette Bayse on board to help. The three of us are the official Event Coordinators.

Fortunately, we have found others who have shared our vision to make this event a success. We formed committees with dedicated committee chairmen to head them. And area businesses have been excited to help and have made many charitable donations to this cause.

We look forward to October 23, 2005 when we can look back and watch all of our hard work become a reality. The vision is quite clear to us; a road full of happy runners taking in the spectacular views as they find their way to the finish area. It is here where they will meet the well organized professionals of the Capital Running Company who will help them remove their ChampionChips and will direct the runners to the Post Race Festival. The music and food will be a wonderful way to celebrate the completion of the inaugural Winchester Half Marathon! Thank you for helping us make HISTORY!