news-record.com

December brings an opportunity to look back at the people and events that made 2009 a great year for running in the Triad.

Introducing: The 2009 Shorties.

We'll need your help to make the best selections involving events, people and achievements in our area.

Go to the Running Shorts blog (news-record.com/blog/ running_shorts) to contribute.

Or drop me an e-mail at eddie.wooten@news-record.com.

We're looking for your nominations of the best in the Triad for these categories (with each, please include an explanation):

* Best race.

* Best race shirt.

* Best costume.

* Best finish-line food.

* Best crowd support.

* Best decision that helped you get faster.

* 2009 goal you're most proud of accomplishing.

* Most inspirational runner.

* Everyday person who made the best contribution to the running community.

Make your nominations by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Watch for the Shorties to be posted on the blog Dec. 29 and published in this space Dec. 30.

Around the area

RUN TO VICTORY: Derek Fenton of Holly Springs endured a cool, rainy morning to win the Run to Victory half-marathon Sunday in Randleman.

Fenton's time of 1 hour, 15 minutes, 45 seconds was good for a four-minute victory over Christian Crifasi of Coleridge.

Grimsley High School runner Robert Whiting won the five-mile race in 32:55.

Run to Victory organizers report that 1,015 half-marathon and five-mile runners took part, marking the largest field in the race's four-year history. The race brought more than $122,000 to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

TRIAD TRAIL SERIES: Elkin's Jason Bryant took first place in the Triad Trail Series 10K on Saturday at Bur-Mil Park.

Bryant and Archdale's Heather Foster also clinched the championships of the three-race series.

Bryant finished the 6.2-mile race in 36 minutes, 37 seconds. Foster was 12th (43:25) in the final race.

REINDEER ROMP: Nate Ayers of Winston-Salem won the Reindeer Romp 5K in Jamestown on Saturday with a time of 16:28. Ayers was coming off a 10th-place finish in the Mistletoe half-marathon in Winston-Salem a week earlier.

Links to full results can be found at the Running Shorts blog.

Thunder Roadies

About 50 or so runners from Guilford County made the trip to Charlotte for the Thunder Road Marathon, and half-marathon, on Saturday.

Among the top performers (top 10 in age group or top 100 overall) in the marathon (1,409 finishers):

Bobby Christiansen, 52, Greensboro: 3:05:37; 40th place overall; second place in age group.

Mark Wear, 36, Greensboro: 3:15:43; 87th overall.

Hilton Herndon, 40, Greensboro: 3:17:17; 97th overall.

Igal Ben-Gal, 53, Greensboro: 3:28:36; ninth in age group.

Anna Callaghan, 24, Greensboro: 3:30:03; third in age group.

All of those times met qualifying standards for the Boston Marathon. The field for 2010 is full, so their times will be good for registration in the 2011 race.

More Boston qualifiers

The weekend was good for additional area runners who achieved times that will qualify them for Boston:

Joe Markley, 47, Summerfield: 3:09:35 at the Kiawah Island Marathon; 49th place.

Matthew Clancy, 36, Greensboro: 3:12:41 at Kiawah; 60th place.

Dina Arceo, 41, Greensboro: 3:39:39 at Kiawah; 180th place.

Dave Emery, 45, High Point: 3:29:49 at Thunder Road; 182nd place.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dec. 31: Running of the Lights, 11:45 p.m., Clemmons. $28 until Dec. 29; $30 afterward. www.setupevents.com

Jan. 1: Resolution Run, 10 a.m., Bur-Mil Park, Greensboro. Entry fee is 10 cans of food. www.offnrunningsports.com

Jan. 9: Frosty Fifty 50K, 8 a.m., Winston-Salem. $30 through Tuesday, $50 until Jan. 5. www.twincitytc.org

Feb. 13: Groundhog Gallop 21K and 8K, 9 a.m., Northeast Park, Greensboro. Half-marathon is $35, 8K is $25; fees are $5 more on race day. www.groundhoggallop.com

Feb. 14: Valentine's Day Massacre Marathon and Marathon Relay, 10 a.m., Country Park, Greensboro. Fees vary for teams or individuals. www.offnrunningsports.com