THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050717
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Like so many organizations in the 1990s, the Elizabeth River Run was forced to downsize.
With the running craze of the '80s tempered, entries dropped from a high of nearly 4,000 a decade ago to about 2,500 in recent years. The race lost its corporate sponsor - The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star - three years ago and has been forced to cut costs.
But like most who've cut and trimmed, the Elizabeth River has emerged lean and robust.
``With the help of the city (of Norfolk), our sponsors and our volunteers, we've learned how to put on a bare-bones race,'' race director David W. Harrison said.
Saturday, more than 2,500 runners are expected to tromp from the Armed Forces Staff College to the downtown Norfolk waterfront in the 16th annual race.
Now known as the Rally's Elizabeth River Run, it is still Virginia's largest road race and was recently honored in Runner's World magazine as one of the nation's top 100 races.
The 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run features a field deep with local talent.
Defending champion Terrence Herrington, who said after winning last year he would not enter again, has changed his mind and will run. So has Virginia Beach resident Mike Harrison, who was second to Herrington.
Susan Malloy, the 1994 women's champion, will not run. Nonetheless, David Harrison said: ``It looks like we'll have a typical high-class local field.''
Two additional events will take place in conjunction with the run. At 8:30 a.m., 600 runners are expected to compete in the Little Lizzie Run, a 1-mile race founded two years ago for youngsters. It has since developed into something of a family run - there will be as many adults as children this year.
The Sentara Health and Fitness Festival also will be held during and following the race at Town Point Park. It will feature exhibits, booths and displays on health and physical fitness.
The main attraction comes at 9 a.m., when the gun sounds at the Armed Forces Staff College on Hampton Boulevard, and more than 2,000 runners begin a race that carries them through Norfolk's West Side. The course meanders through Larchmont, Lamberts Point and Ghent, mostly on Hampton Boulevard, before turning onto Brambleton Avenue and then to Boush Street.
If the weather cooperates, more than 5,000 spectators usually line the course to watch, and several thousand more will be at the finish line at the intersection of Boush and Main streets.
NOTES: Registration is being held today at the Armed Forces Staff College from noon to 6 p.m. Registration fee is $15 per runner. Pre-registered runners can pick up their race packets today, same time and place. For information, call 482-6552 or 444-5327. . . .
Runners must park downtown and take a bus from Town Point Park to the starting line; 22 buses will shuttle runners beginning at 6:45 a.m. The last bus leaves at 8:15. . . . Late registration will be held Saturday until 8:30 a.m. by CNB