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Runners Go The Distance

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By BILL WARD

wward@tampatrib.com

Published: March 2, 2009

TAMPA - A record crowd of nearly 20,000 runners, joggers and walkers hit the streets of Tampa this weekend to take part in four races offered in the Publix Super Markets Gasparilla Distance Classic.

Saturday morning, it was the 15-kilometer (9.3 miles) race, an event that drew nearly 4,500 entrants. Two hours later, more than 9,000 people lined up for the start of the 5K (3.1 miles) run, eclipsing the previous record field by almost 1,500.

There were so many entries for the 15K and 5K this year that Gasparilla officials ran out of race identification tags and were forced to close registration Friday night.

Saturday's 15K featured a spectacular performance by 2008 Olympic marathon runner Ryan Hall, who was so fast - 43 minutes, 26 seconds - he ran virtually alone the entire way and won by more than a half-mile.

Hall's time was the fastest in the 10 years since Gasparilla dropped its elite-runner prize money but believe it or not, Hall's run doesn't rank among the top 50 all-time performances in the race's 32-year history.

Sunday, a field of 4,500 runners turned up for Gasparilla's half marathon (13.1 miles) and an additional 1,400 were signed up for the full marathon (26.2 miles). But unlike Saturday, Sunday's weather was not what any runner would call ideal. Despite the strong winds and heavy rain that moved through the area with a cold front, most participants seemed to take the conditions literally in stride.

Reporter Bill Ward can be reached at (813) 259-7456.

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