Spring Solstice 5K to Benefit Bednosky's Team USA Run

By Joel Frady

For many people, the idea of running for 24 hours straight is the stuff nightmares are made from. For Annette

Bednosky, it was the way she wanted to begin 2009.

Bednosky, who works as a school counselor at Ashe County High School, was recovering from a knee injury last fall when she decided to enter a race in Morganton. She was originally planning to run the six-hour race, not wanting to place too much pressure on her legs, but decided to run the 24-hour race in a last-minute bid to qualify for Team USA and compete in the World 24-Hour Challenge this May in Bergamo, Italy.

In order to qualify, Bednosky had to run 120 miles in the 24-hour span. She was no stranger to long distance running, having ran several Ultra marathons (races of more than 26.2 miles), but hadn't raced since the Grandfather Mountain marathon in July.

The qualifying window for Team USA ended on Jan. 1, meaning that Bednosky's New Year's Eve run was her one shot at making the team. She did just that, too, running 121.99 miles to earn the sixth and final spot on the Team USA roster.

"I love goals and challenges," she said of the run. But athletes for Team USA's World 24-Hour Challenge team are required to raise some funds on their own (for airfare, lodging and part of the team doctor's fee), a goal that Ashe County Parks and Recreation stepped in to help with.

"We contacted Annette to ask her what parks and recreation could do to help support her to get her to Italy," said Rita Prevette, administrative coordinator for ACPR. "We're just so proud of her, having a resident here in Ashe County that we're going to see represent the United States."

They decided that the proper way to help would be to hold a five-kilometer race, which Prevette said is also being held to promote "the awareness of fitness. We're trying to bring fitness into the county [and] get people motivated out there, moving and walking."

The race, the Ashe County Spring Solstice 5K Run and Fitness Walk, will be held on Saturday, March 21, at 9 a.m. The five-kilomter (3.1 mile) open course will begin at Family Central in Jefferson and travel 1.3 miles down Ashe Central School Road towards the Ashe County airport. Runners will turn around after 1.3 miles and run back to Family Central before running around the building and ending behind the gym.

Bednosky warns, however, that it's not a flat course.

"We don't have a flat place in Ashe County to hold a run," she said. She later noted that "this is not a personal record course. If someone runs a 23-minute 5K, this will probably take them two more minutes to run."

Bednosky said that she wants "to see some of my fellow High Country folks out there doing what I love" and hopes the run "inspires some people to be active in the county." Half the proceeds from the event will go toward Ashe County Park and Recreation's proposed indoor, retractable climbing wall.

The event will also feature a silent auction that will begin at 7:30 a.m. and feature items like a bicycle, running shoes, sandals or a personal training package.

For Bednosky, it's another step closer to representing the United States in May. When asked what excites her about being part of Team USA, she said "because I can.

"I totally can," she continued, with a smile. "I love this sport. It's a very young sport and I think I can represent and I can represent well, along with my teammates." Bednosky and her husband, George, will depart the United States on April 29.

Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and costs $20 for adults and $12 for students. Door prizes will be announced at 10 a.m., and prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female contestants in the following age divisions: 19 and under, 20 to 39 and 40 and older. Anyone not wanting to participate in the 5K can do the Fitness Walk instead, which will consist of four laps around a paved quarter-mile path.

Whether contestants win or not, Bednosky said that all runners "are going to be psyched to say 'I've just run a 5K."

To find out more about the Ashe County Spring Solstice 5K Run and Fitness Walk, contact Prevette at Ashe County Parks and Recreation at (336) 982-6185 or by e-mail at ritaprevette@ashecountygov.com, or Bednosky at (336) 620-2985 or by e-mail at annettebednosky@gmail.com.