May

2026

From the Editor

Greetings FARC members! What a full month of running activities with more in store as we end the school year and start the summer.

The Grand Prix continued with our fifth race in the series, the Heppe 15K. While the weather was less than ideal with the rain, it didn’t dampen the energy, excitement or the spirit of the runners and the volunteers. It was great seeing so many of you after the race getting your Grand Prix medals!

Speaking of the Grand Prix, I know that I mentioned for the past two months that LaTonya Turner, our Grand Prix Director, will be stepping down at the end of the series this year. As such, we are still putting out the call for anyone that would like to be the 2027 Grand Prix Director. If you are interested, please reach out to LaTonya.

We also had the Historic Half and the Great Train Race. Congratulations to all of the participants! I also want to thank the volunteers for both races (and those of you who helped man the FARC Booth at the Expo). As you know, FARC is in charge of the post Historic Half libations. Because we do this, the club benefits financially so that we can continue to bring you events at or below cost to you. With the Great Train Race, the proceeds go to Loisann’s Hope House and a race that large can’t be done without volunteers, so thank you so very much from me and all of your Board members.

Speaking of volunteers, we do need you. You may see familiar faces at the races, and they may just happen to be your Board members. We promise to do a better job in getting our requests out sooner, but please consider taking some time to help out if you have the time. By the way, the Trail Series is looking for volunteers to assist as well.

This month, Vic gives us the third part of the evolution of race timing. The feature article is dedicated to Mr. Jacob Korn who is the 2026 Victor I. Culp Scholarship awardee. Congratulations and well done, Jacob!

This month also saw the conclusion of the runner training series with a big celebration at Lucky Road. Congratulations to all participants in challenging yourselves and achieving your milestone!

As always, my fellow FARC members, be safe, enjoy this warmer weather and enjoy the run!

Will Triplett

FARC SATURDAY GROUP RUN

Saturday Fun Runs start at 7 a.m. The group meets on the corner of William and Princess Anne St. Choose to run 6 or 3 miles. All abilities are welcome. We have fast runners, run/walkers, and everything in between. Arrive a bit early to get in on the pre-run photo and meet the group. Note the change in time as we go earlier after Memorial Day.

BOARD MEETING

Our next board meeting will be on June 18th at 7 p.m. The board meetings are held at the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown. All members are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to info@runfarc.com so we can ensure sufficient space is available.

FARC MEMBERS OUT AND ABOUT

Another busy month from the Historic Half, Heppe 15K, Great Train Race along with our weekly, social, and pop-up runs. Again, no shortage of things to do and participate in.

Photos courtesy of FARC.

Trail Running Series

FUTURE EVENTS

May 31st – 5 Mile Motts Run Reservoir

July 19th – 10k Quarry Trail System

August 23rd – 8 Mile Motts Run Reservoir

September 6th -10 Mile Quarry Trail System

September 27th – 13.1 Mile Motts Run Reservoir

2026 Monument and Memorials Run

Gerry Griffin has started his 2026 Monument and Memorials Run in 2026. Pictured above is April’s run so that you get a case of FOMO. For your planning, here are the remaining tentative dates:

Summer: 2 August
Fall: 1 November

Starting point: Columbia Island Marina

Photo courtesy of Gerry Griffin

Summer Track Series

Our family friendly Summer Track series is kicking off this coming Tuesday!!! The series will run June 2-July 28, from 6-7:30pm every Tuesday in June and July.

All levels, ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged! We will have water and watermelon and different fun things to indulge yourself in while we get it done in the heat at the James Monroe High School Track! Come a little early to sign up and warm up as we will try to start as close to 6pm as possible every week.

Tell your friends! This is a free community event and all are welcome

We will host 4 events every week that will include a 100 meter 6 and under kids race. It will be the second event each week to give the kids time to get ready.

See you next week!

Photo courtesy of FARC

FARC Plogging Event

Our plog has been rescheduled and will now take place during our Saturday group run on July 25th. This will be our Historic Half shake-out run. We’re keeping it extra earth-friendly by using bio-bags and we’ll provide gloves so you can help pick up along the route and carry your bag as you go. Ploggers will receive special MCM swag at the finish!

Mark your calendars for this special event. 🌳

FARC Swag

Have you been wanting some new swag to run in and represent the club? Not sure what to do with that Visa gift card you got for Christmas? Well wonder no more! Introducing the FARC Recover line of apparel available for ordering and shipment direct to your home. Check out the full line by using the QR code and represent the club around town or at your next race!

MCM Bib Sales

FARC is selling 15 bibs for the 2026 Marine Corps Marathon. To buy an access code, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Arlington/MCMBibsFromFARC.

The cost of the bibs is $250 with no additional transaction fees, and FARC members will receive a 10% discount for one of these 15 bibs. This is an awesome deal if you want to run the MCM!

As a reminder, you are buying an access code and must finalize your registration by July 31, 2026.

FARC Training Series

The FARC Training series commenced on 3 Jan 2026 and concluded on 17 May 2026 with the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon. Sign-ups were impressive with 5K – 107 participants; 10K – 70 participants; and the Half Marathon – 86 participants. Through the cold bitter winter to the extreme heat, the training group proved to themselves that they could reach their personal goals.

Five individuals were awarded FARC memberships for the greatest number of days showing up for 5K and 10K training. In addition, three individuals were awarded FARC memberships at our training party during our series ending event. These three individuals were – Jan Klum, Sagan (Sage) Adhikari, Vanya Williams, and Giovanni Jackson.

There were five participants who completed all three training events and ran the Historic half marathon. These folks received special recognition and a gift certificate from Lucky Road. These individuals were: Noel Barnett, Hana McConnell, Frank Shannon, Taylor Shannon, and Jeff Higgins

Overall, this was a GREAT training series that highlighted running awareness in the Fredericksburg area. Gerry Griffin, FARC board member, was the lead for the training series and was assisted by Anne Anderson. The series ending party was filled with laughter about individual stories of their running journeys!

Coaches were recognized along with our safety vehicle driver and logistics supporter, Steve Anderson. Thanks to Lucky Road for their support throughout the training series.

The Evolution of Race Timing (Part 3)

Vic Culp

In the mid-80s, NASCAR started using active AMD transponders on each car to provide real-time data to viewers and teams.

Active transponders have a battery, a transmitter, and a unique code. The transmitter has a limited range. A wire antenna was installed under the pavement of each track at the finish line. The antenna was attached to a receiver/reader.

The reader interprets the unique code and associates it with a time, usually the time of day to the thousandth of a second. That information is passed to a computer that records and reports the information. The computer may also perform calculations, typically reporting the time difference between chip reads.

In the early years, the cost to produce an active transponder exceeded $50 each. Over the years, the costs have been reduced.

The advantages of active transponders are fewer communication collisions and highly accurate times. However, even with reduced costs, a running race with 1000 participants may cost up to $35,000 for transponders, and they can not be discarded, requiring a collection process.

At the same time that active transponders were released, companies were working on passive technology.

Each passive chip has a unique code and an antenna. When a passive chip gets close to a read field, the receiver/reader transmits an electromagnetic signal that provides enough power in the chip to reflect a code to the reader.

Like active systems, the reader records the code and a time, sending the data to a computer for reporting and analysis.

Championchip was the first large-scale use of passive technology in running races in the mid-90s. They used a chip encased in plastic that could be tied into shoelaces or worn with an ankle strap. The initial cost to manufacture a chip was between $15 and $20.

They sold their chips to timing companies for $35 each and charged a $1 royalty for each use. Because of the cost of the chips, they needed to be collected after each race.

Championchip started selling chips directly to participants and waived the royalty fee for participant-owned chips. Races would discount runners who used an owned chip.

The read fields for these chips used UHF frequencies, were up to waist height, and were limited to above the antenna mats. Also, other nearby wireless devices (e.g., DJ Microphones, EMT communications) could prevent the mats from detecting chips.

By the early 2000s, the manufacturing cost of passive chips was 40 cents each. Championchip continued to sell chips for $35.

Around this time, developers were experimenting with VHF systems that used chips embedded in tags attached to bibs. Tag costs were reduced to around 20 cents each. The tags received power from the read antennas and reflected a unique code; they are considered passive systems.

The advantage of these systems was that VHF communications eliminated interference from nearby communications, and the tags no longer needed to be collected for reuse.

A downside is that tags will not record through water, with heavy sweat being an issue.

Many Championchip timers switched to Chronotrack, the first successful disposable chip system. Since those timers were used to pay $1 per chip use, that was carried forward into the tag cost that Chronotrack charged.

Championchip eventually developed its disposable tag system and markets it under the MyLaps brand.

Active systems are still used in triathlons, obstacle and mud events, cross-country skiing, bicycle racing, and auto racing. The cost to manufacture a chip is under $10. But the batteries need to be replaced frequently.

Other uses of passive systems include credit cards, pet chips, automotive toll collection, and product tracking.

What’s the next generation of race timing?

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Vic Culp is a co-founder of the Fredericksburg Area Running Club in 1994. He has managed a few races and run a few miles.

You can follow his blog at slowoldrunner.com and subscribe to receive notification emails from that site.

Check out his book “Go for 25” on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094YFRJ7G.

Victor I. Culp Scholarship Awardee

Jacob Korn

1) Describe your past athletic participation

Throughout elementary and middle school, I tried almost every sport imaginable, competing on Parks and Rec, travel, and school teams in swimming, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, flag football, and more. During the end of elementary school, I fell in love with running. Since then, whether competing with the Rappahannock Ospreys, my middle school team, or my high school Track and Cross-Country teams, the after-school run has become my favorite part of every day. Running in high school has surrounded me with some of the most talented and hardworking athletes in the state. Their leadership inspired my own, and I have worked hard to pass that same work ethic on to younger athletes while serving as a team captain for the past two years. Running has brought me on some of the most exciting and impactful adventures of my life, whether racing up and down hills at Oatlands or diving into the ocean to cap off a cooldown after the outdoor season.

2) What impact has athletics had on your life?

Athletic participation has been a key part of my identity for the vast majority of my life. As a younger child, I tried almost every sport imaginable. With this being said, joining the Rappahannock Ospreys as a fourth grader was the spark that grew my passion for long-distance running. Competing with peers throughout late elementary and middle school developed my competitive spirit. My favorite days of the week were Tuesdays and Thursdays, when I would come straight from Ni River Track to Pratt Park. I developed some of my closest friendships at those practices, many of which remain among my strongest to this day.
During COVID, running served as one of the only constants in my life and a true respite from the monotony of lockdown. It anchored my mental health during an isolating time, and it was at this point that my love for the sport truly blossomed.
Entering high school and competing has surrounded me with talented, driven athletes who raised my expectations of what I was capable of. In addition, some of my closest friendships were forged on long runs and at early morning practices, bonded by a shared struggle that is cross-country and track running. Those relationships gave me a sense of belonging and identity in life.
As I grew into a team captain over the past two years, running pushed me to grow in ways I did not fully anticipate. I learned that leadership is about setting a tone, holding yourself to a standard others can follow, and showing up for your teammates on the days when it is hardest to do so.
Overall, running has given me confidence in my own voice and a much deeper understanding of what it means to be responsible for something beyond yourself.

3) Describe your past academic achievements.

Although running has always been my greatest passion, I have continually made academics my top priority in order to best set myself up for future success. I am the Salutatorian for my high school class, a title that reflects the countless hours of hard work I have invested in assignments, tests, and projects over the past four years. I earned a 1490 on the SAT and was accepted to the University of Virginia, where I plan to attend next year. I have also been a part of the Commonwealth Governor’s School the past four years, an advanced academic program that pushed me beyond the traditional classroom and deepened my ability to think critically and collaborate at a high level.

4) What impact have academics had on your life?

Academics have shaped me in ways that go far beyond grades or rankings. The work ethic required to succeed academically while also dedicating myself to running, work, and community involvement has taught me how to manage my time, set priorities, and hold myself to a high standard.

I have also learned that the best kind of learning is when you are excited and motivated to solve problems. The Governor’s School program reinforced this by exposing me to ideas and discussions that challenged my thinking. These experiences gave me confidence in my voice and in my ability to engage meaningfully with complex problems.

Ultimately, my academic achievements don’t define me, but they do serve as markers of the work I have put in as a student.

5) Describe your involvement in the community and how you have helped FARC.

My connection to the local running community is very important to me. For the past year and half, I have worked with Arsenal Race Timing, a company that supports many FARC events throughout the Fredericksburg area. In this role, I help set up timing equipment before races, ensure accurate results throughout the event, interact with runners of all ages and abilities, and assist with teardown afterward.

What makes this work meaningful to me is how directly it supports the same running community that helped shape who I am. Many of the runners crossing those finish lines are the same people who inspired me as a younger athlete, and now I can give back to that community in a tangible way.

Outside of running, I am also a member of Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) in downtown Fredericksburg, a program through which local youth collectively evaluate local nonprofits and allocate grant funding to support their work.

6) What impact has community service had on your life?

Community service has taught me that showing up for others is one of the most fulfilling things a person can do. Programs like Youth in Philanthropy asked me to think critically about where resources are needed most, how nonprofits demonstrate impact, and how to responsibly make decisions. These are skills that have a real impact on community members, and they have made me a more overall empathetic person.

7) What are your future aspirations?

This fall, I will begin my studies at the University of Virginia, where I plan to pursue a pre-law track and eventually attend law school. My years of balancing academics, athletics, work, and community involvement have drawn me toward a field where critical thinking and leadership are key skills. I am still early in figuring out exactly what area of law interests me most, but
I know that the discipline and work ethic I have built over the past four years have prepared me well for the rigors ahead.

At UVA, I also plan to continue running through club athletics. The sport has been too central to who I am to simply walk away from, and I look forward to finding a new community of runners to train and compete alongside as I begin this next chapter.

Previous Scholarship Winners

1997 Tom Sitzman (Stafford, Virginia)
1998 Dana Folta (North Stafford, Mary Washington)
1999 Heidi Sondermann (North Stafford, Virginia)
2000 Keith Parker (Massaponax, Virginia Tech)
2001 Colleen Connell (Brooke Pointe, Penn State)
2002 Kristin Shiring (North Stafford, William and Mary)
2003 Mike Porter (Colonial Forge, Maryland)
2004 Kristin Mahalak (Chancellor, William and Mary)
2005 Brandon Dick (Massaponax, James Madison)
2006 William Spencer (Fishburne Military School, Old Dominion)
2007 Kendall Carty (Riverbend, Mary Washington)
2008 Sara Lasker (Riverbend, William and Mary)
2009 Leah Schubel (Chancellor, VMI)
2010 David Justis (Spotsylvania, Mary Washington)
2011 Jacqueline Graham (Courtland, Lynchburg College)
2012 Will Hamilton (James Morroe, Virginia)
2013 Nate Lasker (Riverbend, Virginia Tech)
2014 Luke Lysher (Stafford, VMI)
2015 Gresham Ganninger (Stafford, James Madison)
2016 Emma Dolby (James Monroe, Virginia)
2017 Hunter Wilfong (Riverbend, Coastal Carolina)
2018 Rachel Good (Stafford, Wake Forest)
2019 Mitchell Dolby (James Monroe, Virginia Tech
2020 Rebecca Tidwell (King George, James Madison)
2021 Kayla Loescher (Colonial Forge, Hillsdale College)
2022 Emma Wunderly (Mountain View, Virginia)
2023 Natalie Kingston (Mountain View, Liberty)
2024 Landon Mills (Colonial Forge, Liberty)
2025 Scarlett Smith (Colonial Forge, William and Mary)
2026 Jacob Korn (Riverbend, Virginia)

UPCOMING GRAND PRIX RACES

SPCA Rescue Run 5K: June 14th Register here

Fallen Heroes 5-Miler: July 4th Register here

Devil’s Den 10-Miler: August 16th Register here

Downtown Mile: September 19th Register here

Plaid to the Bone 10K: October 11th Register here

Gus 5K: November 7th Register here

Blue and Gray Half: December 6th Register here

Current Standings

FARC Mission Statement

Members of the Club believe that running enhances both the health and happiness of its participants. The Club, in furtherance of this objective, will promote and encourage recreational running in the Fredericksburg community through education of the community on the benefits of physical fitness and sport. The club may hold group runs, fun runs, championships, races on the road or track, and time trials; may put on lectures, demonstrations, and social events; may print and publish books, magazines, and newsletters; make awards; conduct fundraising events; and do all such other things as may be conducive to the encouragement of running.

Board of Directors

President – Denise Freeman denise.freeman@runfarc.com 2-year term 2025-2026

Vice President – Angela Anderson angela.anderson@runfarc.com 2-year term 2025-2026

Secretary – Michelle Sledge secretary@runfarc.com2-year term 2026-2027

Treasurer – Vic Culp treasurer@runfarc.com2-year term 2026-2027

Amber Hayghe amber.hayghe@runfarc.com 2-year director 2026-2027

Latonya Turner latonya.turner@runfarc.com2-year director 2025-2026

Will Triplett william.triplett@runfarc.com2-year director 2025-2026

Gerry Griffin gerry.griffin@runfarc.com1-year director 2026

James Kemp james.kemp@runfarc.com1-year director 2026

May