Related:

• Gallery: West Virginia 5K Run/Walk Championship

HUNTINGTON — If Huntington is in fact the unhealthiest city in America, it didn’t show Saturday morning for the West Virginia 5K Run/Walk Championship Race, which was title sponsored by The Herald-Dispatch.

Race director and Cabell County resident Pat Riley said the 513 finishers shattered the record for a 5K in Huntington, set last year with 351 in the Bun Run.

“This is part of the turning point of this city,” Riley said.

It also was a significant moment for some of the participants. There was Hurricane resident Fred Jones, who has shed more than 100 pounds in the past three years to get down to 169. On Saturday, the 54-year-old won his age group with a time of 18:31.

“I’ve shed the pounds down now, and it’s made me feel a whole lot better,” said Jones. “Events like this are a turning point for the state of West Virginia, and if I can be a part of that, be an inspiriation to folks like other folks who have inspired me, I’m happy to do that. It can be done, just a matter of having to push a little bit.”

Len Picha recently participated in a biggest loser contest at First Baptist Church in Kenova. He ran his first 5K earlier this year and is happy just to be able to complete the race.

“A year ago, I never dreamed I’d be running, let alone doing a 5K,” said Picha, who finish at around 33 minutes. “This shows the rest of the country that Huntington is a healthy city, and we do care about our health and our bodies.”

Riley told the crowd at Pullman Square before the trophy presentations that the event was the first step in shedding something else. The title of most unhealthy city, according to a recent report and story by The Associated Press.

“We started this because we are the fattest city in America,” Riley said. “But doing things like this will trump that, so we can hand this off to somebody else.”

The race also had the highlight of the unofficial Huntington 5K time record of 14:55 by 21-year-old Ravenswood native Andrew Benford, who runs track at the University of Richmond.

“I think this has to be the fastest 5K in Huntington history,” said Jason Pyles, a former Marshall University runner and coach who runs 5K races all around the country. “This was really an awesome experience. Seeing over 500 people finishing a 5K in Huntington.”

An official 5K championship race hasn’t been run in the state in more than a decade, but with Saturday’s success, both Pyles and Riley believe they can land it again next year.

“We are going to do this again in Huntington,” Riley said. “I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting it.”

The race was sanctioned by the USA Track and Field-West Virginia Association, meaning any times run on the course could go into a national database for records.

For most, the run and walk was about participation and exercise rather than record books. More than 100 signed up before the 8 a.m. start, with a well-diversified field. Riley reported that an 87-year-old man showed up with his registration in late May, while a number of area teens also took part. Among those were Huntington High School sprinter Daniel Brown and now-graduate Xavier Humphrey. Both said they wanted to do well, but they also acknowledged that they wanted to support the city.

Jill Morris, of Wayne, said the strong turnout of young people sends a positive message that people are aware and do care about their health.

“We are young and healthy, and we want to give the city a better name,” Morris said.

Robert's Running & Walking Shop and Mizuno were gold sponsors. First State Bank was the silver sponsor. The United Way, Huntington Roadrunners Club and Pepsi were the community sponsors.

Chris Jackson/The Herald-Dispatch

The West Virginia 5K Run/Walk Championship took place Saturday, June 6, 2009. The race, which had over 500 participants, began and finished on VeteranÕs Memorial Boulevard between 8th and 9th streets.

Purchase this photo