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2008 Racing off to a Great Start! |
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MARATHONERS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE 2008
BOONE TO GRANDFATHER RACE
Marathon runners Joe Sinclair and Michelle Hepler challenged each other
to try and complete the rugged Grandfather Mountain Marathon on July
12th, 2008. On the warm and humid day, Michelle and Joe joined
400 marathoners from throughout North America in Boone to begin their
26.2 mile run to Grandfather Mountain. Both runners completed the race
in well under six hours--earning a finisher’s medal, very sore
bodies, and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment for their rewards.
Recently, these two local runners along with Brea Fincannon successfully
completed the Ellerbe Springs Marathon in sub-five hour finishing times.
The Grandfather Mountain
Marathon has the reputation of being one of the toughest marathons in
America. The 26.2-mile race begins in Boone, climbs to the Blue Ridge
Parkway and ends at MacRae Meadows. Over the course of the race,
runners have to climb over 3,000 feet in elevation throughout the race.
The net elevation gain is 946 feet overall. Out of 438 entries, 351
crossed the finish line. |
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North Carolina
Half-Marathon runners |
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From L-R: Michelle Hepler, Joe Sinclair, Chuck Dearman, and Brea
Fincannon
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2008 GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN MARATHON |
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STATESVILLE MARATHONERS
RUN THE DISTANCE
Joe after completing the 26.2 mile race Michelle Hepler and Joe Sinclair Brea Fincannon and Joe Sinclair Brea Fincannon and Michelle Hepler Runners Brea Fincannon, Joe Sinclair and Michelle Hepler during Ellerbe Springs marathon Brea Fincannon and Joe Sinclair at Ellerbe Springs marathon Runners Brea Fincannon, Joe Sinclair and Michelle Hepler during Ellerbe Springs marathon Runners Brea Fincannon, Joe Sinclair and Michelle Hepler cross the finish line of the Ellerbe Springs marathon Runners Joe Sinclair, Michelle Hepler, and Brea Fincannon enjoy great finishes at the Ellerbe Springs marathon
L to R: Brea Fincannon, Rick French, Ellerbe Springs race coordinator, Joe Sinclair and Michelle Hepler Runners Joe Sinclair, Michelle Hepler, and Brea Fincannon at end of Ellerbe Springs marathon Joe, Brea and Michelle continuing the course Approaching the finish line Approaching the finish line Joe, Michelle and Brea after completing the race
Joe after completing the 26.2 mile race
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26.2 MILE RACE IN UNDER 5
HOURS
March 29, 2008
- Local runners Brea Fincannon, Michelle Hepler, and Joe Sinclair
challenged each other to compete in the rugged, hilly Ellerbe Marathon
on March 29th. On a cool, windy morning, the trio proceeded to
successfully complete the annual race which is generally recognized as
one of the more difficult marathons in the south--one which features
lengthy hills with one steep climb of almost 500 feet. They crossed the
finish line side-by-side with a time of 4 hours 56 minutes. Fincannon,
Hepler, and Sinclair practice frequent long distance running at the
Iredell County YMCA in addition to their road running activities.
Hepler placed third in her age division, while Sinclair beat his 1996
Ellerbe Marathon finish by 38 minutes. He and Fincannon have
successfully competed in over 25 distance races in the southeast since
the fall of 2006. |
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Back to NWRESA Main Page |
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Statesville Runners Complete North
Carolina Half-Marathon |
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Joe Sinclair crossing finish line at 2008 Greensboro
Half-Marathon, after a challenging 13.1 mile run. |
Greensboro, NC - Brea Fincannon,
Michelle Hepler, Chuck Dearman and Joe Sinclair successfully completed
the 13.1 mile North Carolina Half-Marathon on May 3, 2008. With warm,
humid conditions, the four runners competed in the first-ever event
which was sponsored by United Healthcare of the Carolinas |
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Kyle Petty greets Joe Sinclair at the
finish
of the 2007 Victory Junction Run
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13.1
MILE PERSONAL BEST FOR SINCLAIR
NASCAR
veteran Kyle Petty greeted Joe Sinclair as he crossed the finish line in
122 minutes and 9 seconds during the Run To Victory Half Marathon.
The event was held in Randleman and over 540 runners participated in the
event. Sinclair's time beat his previous best time by over 7 minutes.
His running partners, Garry Wasson and Shannon Saunders, also posted
their personal best times for their efforts.
Saunders joined Sinclair in the half marathon, while
Wasson ran the 5 mile race. Both Kyle and Richard Petty were in
attendance and helped to sponsor the event which was attended by
approximately one thousand people. The race was run in chilly forty
degree weather with sunshine and very little wind. Sinclair beat over
300 runners of all ages in the long distance event and finished in the
top forty percent of all runners. Since September, 2006, he has
competed in 22 long distance competitive races which includes four half
marathons since June, 2007. |
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RUNNERS WIN FIRST PLACE AWARDS
IN LENOIR 10K
RACE
Joe Sinclair and Brea Fincannon each achieved
new personal best racing times on November 10, 2007, at the Lenoir
5k/10k Race on the Greenway. Running in 45 degree weather, Joe
completed the 6.2 mile course in 52 minutes and 48 seconds. Brea
completed the event in 48 minutes and 53 seconds. Both won first place
in their respective age divisions. Since September, 2006, Joe has
completed twenty competitive races and Brea has competed in twelve
events. The Lenoir race was routed along the new greenway and featured
the last one third mile finish up a very steep hill known as "The
Beast."
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Joe with running partners Shannon Saunders and
Garry Wasson celebrating their finish in the Run to Victory Half
Marathon |
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STATESVILLE RUNNERS EARN TOP AWARDS IN HICKORY
RACES |
Joe Sinclair and Garry Wasson achieved personal
best times as they participated in the "Hickory Turkey Trot 5k and 10k
Races" on November 17, 2007. On a cold, crisp morning, Joe ran the 6.2
mile 10k course in 51 minutes and 28 seconds--good enough for first
place in his age group and first place for all runners aged 55 and
over. Garry ran the 3.1 mile 5k course in 25 minutes and one
second--earning first place over a number of other runners in his age
division. Garry has participated in three competitive events this fall,
earning a first, second, and third place age division award for his
efforts. Since September 2006, Joe has participated in twenty-one
competitive events, earning seven first place, five second place and six
third place awards in his age division.
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ENDURANCE CHALLENGE
FIFTEEN
DAYS = Two Half-Marathons and One 10 Kilometer Race!
Striving
for a personal endurance record, Joe Sinclair set his goal to
successfully complete two 13.1 mile half-marathons and one 6.2 mile ten
kilometer race beginning on September 8 and concluding on September 22,
2007. On three hot, humid Saturday race days, Sinclair finished fourth
in his age division for the Danville Half-Marathon, followed by a first
place finish in the Badin ten kilometer race. Seven days later, he
finished second for his age division in the rugged, hilly Hiddenite
Half-Marathon.
From
September 2006 through September 2007, Joe Sinclair competed in
seventeen long-distance races. The results were:
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Race |
Events |
Finishes
(Age Division) |
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5 Kilometer |
8 |
2 – 1st
Place
2 – 2nd Place
2 – 3rd Place
2 – 4th Place |
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8 Kilometer (5 miles) |
1 |
1 – 3rd
Place |
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10 Kilometer ( 6.2 miles)
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5 |
3 – 1st
Place
1 – 2nd Place
1 – 3rd Place |
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Half-Marathons |
3 |
2 – 2nd
Place
1 – 4th Place |
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Sinclair & Fincannon Compete in
Danville Half-Marathon Race |
DANVILLE HALF-MARATHON
PROVES BIG CHALLENGE
September 8, 2007 - Joe Sinclair and Brea Fincannon survived
temperatures approaching ninety degrees to successfully complete the
13.1 mile Danville Virginia Half-Marathon. The extreme heat affected
many runners in their quest to complete the newly-designed course along
the Dan River. Brea completed her first sub-two hour half-marathon
while Joe finished fourth in his age division, completing the race in
138 minutes.
Finishers
medals were awarded to each runner who successfully completed the long
distance race in less than three hours.
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Schools Participating in Age 6 to 96 Fitness Challenge |
Total Raised |

Hickory Marathon run - June 2, 2007 |
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Glade Creek
Elementary School 6 to 96 Fitness Challenge
West Wilkes
Middle School 6 to 96 Fitness Challenge |
$2,025.00
$2,500.00 |
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Plan your Age 6 to 96 Fitness Challenge Today!
Contact: Joe Sinclair
Northwest RESA
Phone: 336.667.2191
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May 19, 2007 - Here we go again! Dr. Sinclair and his
runners again successfully complete the CIS Back to School races in
Wilkesboro. Dr. Sinclair completed the 5 mile race in 38:44
minutes, and the 3.1 mile race in 25:54 minutes. From
Left to right: Kevin Speaks, Brea Fincannon, Dr. Sinclair, Laura
Saunders, and Shannon Saunders. Click for complete story. |
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Earn free fitness equipment for your school! Sponsor a 6 to 96
Fitness Challenge and have a fun-filled day (or evening) learning
about health, nutrition and fitness. This challenge serves as a
great way to educate and involve students, parents and staff on this
important issue.
West Wilkes Middle School
recently raised $2,500 to purchase new fitness equipment and
Glade Creek Elementary raised
over $2,000 toward the construction of a new fitness track by
participating in the challenge.
North Wilkes Middle School raised over
$1,700 for health supplies, materials, and equipment for the school.
Call NWRESA for details at 336.667.2191. |
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May 5, 2007 - The Statesville runners finished in the top half of
all runners during the Mitchell College 5K Run for Excellence '07.
From left to right: Kevin Speaks, Brea Fincannon,
Dr. Sinclair, Laura Saunders and Shannon Saunders. |
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April 14, 2007 - Joe Sinclair and his running partners, Brea
Fincannon and Kevin Speaks at the Alexander County 5K awards ceremony.
Brea and Kevin are two of the top area runners from Statesville. |
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Wilkesboro,
NC - On May 19th, 2007, Joe Sinclair successfully duplicated his
previous Davie County dual race accomplishments by running the Wilkes
County 8 kilometer (5 mile) race, followed immediately by the 5
kilometer (3.1 mile) race. The events were sponsored by
"Communities in Schools of Wilkes." Sinclair successfully
completed the 5 mile race in 38:44 minutes, earning third place in his
age division. Immediately afterwards, Sinclair completed the 3.1
mile race in a time of 25:54, place him first out of all runners aged 50
or older. By completing the back-to-back races, he became the
first runner over 50 years of age in the history of the Wilkes races to
achieve this fitness milestone. Congratulations Dr.
Sinclair! |
"You
did an awesome job! I hope that I am in as good of shape as you are
when I am 60! I don't recall that I have had any runners over 60 to
complete both races.... actually I don't recall having any over
50 to complete both races!"
Sherrie Pavlansky, CIS of Wilkes, and organizer of
Wilkes event to Joe Sinclair after completion of his back-to-back races. |
Sinclair completes back-to-back
long distance races
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Mocksville, NC - Putting his words about fitness into action, on
March 10, 2007, Joe Sinclair accepted the challenge to run a 5K (3.1
mile) race, followed immediately by a 10K (6.2 mile) race in Mocksville,
North Carolina. Out of 227 runners, who participated in
either the 5K or 10K races, only 18 actually entered and completed both
races. Of the 18, three runners over the age of 45, including Dr.
Sinclair, accomplished their goal. Sinclair's time for the 3.1
mile race was twenty five minutes and 4 seconds, earning a 3rd place
award for his division. |
Sinclair completed the 6.2 mile course in 58 minutes, earning a 1st
place award in his division. Since September 2006, Dr. Sinclair
has competed in 14 long distance races in North and South Carolina,
earning four 1st place awards, four 2nd place, and four 3rd place awards
in his division. He strives to personally promote health and
fitness by maintaining a regimen of running 7 miles per day with a
group of running enthusiasts at the YMCA in Statesville. He
encourages others to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Congratulations to Dr. Sinclair! |
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Dr. Sinclair wins 1st place (in his age
division)
for the 6.2 mile race |
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Marathon proceeds split among N.C. Jaycees' Burn
Center, other charities.
BY ANDREW MACKIE
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Sunday, June 3, 2007
HICKORY -- Runners from as far away as Kansas,
Mississippi and Florida converged on Hickory
Saturday morning for the second annual Hickory
Charity Chase Half-Marathon.
More than 100 volunteers helped 319
participants take part.
Half of Saturday’s proceeds will go to the
North Carolina Jaycees’ Burn Center in Chapel
Hill. The remaining amount will be dispersed
among several local charities, including Habitat
for Humanity, Exodus Homes and the Humane
Society of Catawba County.
“Races are a great way to showcase the city,”
said Amanda Edwards, race director and creator.
“Not only did it bring money for our charities,
it brought people into the city of Hickory.”
The 13.1-mile course began on Main Avenue.
Runners wound their way through northwest
Hickory and Geitner Park, moved through
Lenoir-Rhyne College and finished on Union
Square in downtown.
“We had people crossing the finishing line
cheering and some crossing the finish line
crying,” Edwards said. “It was really great to
watch the excitement as well as the
accomplishment of these people finishing this
challenging course.”
The number of runners increased by 101 in the
event’s second running.
Final figures aren’t in, but Edwards hopes
the event raised $10,000. Last year, the event
brought in $6,300.
amackie@hickoryrecord.com | 322-4510 x5407
or 304-6914
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