Jenny Kincaid Boone

Jenny Kincaid Boone has been running since she was in eighth grade. She competed in cross country and track at Fort Defiance High School (Fort Defiance, Va.) and at Roanoke College, where she was all-ODAC in cross country for four years. When her knees and legs aren't aching from the wear of years of competition, she hits the 19 to low 20-minute range for a 5K.

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Johnny Nolen, a runner from Rocky Mount, noticed a lack of five-mile races in the Roanoke Valley. Most start at the 5K (3.1 miles) distance, jump to a 10K (6.2 miles) and then up to the half marathon (13.1 miles) races.

So, when it came time to think of ways to raise funds for the Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center in Rocky Mount, Nolen knew just the idea.

As one of the center’s board members, Nolen has created one of the first road races to take place at Smith Mountain Lake. It’s a five-miler set for Saturday, Oct. 21 and named the Johnny CASA five-miler and 5K walk.

The advocacy center helps children who are victims of abuse and neglect. And through the CASA program, trained volunteers advocate for children’s needs through the court system.

Nolen mapped out the course as a rolling and paved road terrain that cuts straight through the Lakewatch Plantation, a 470-acre development that will include residential and commercial aspects. Trey Park, one of several well-known developers at Smith Mountain Lake, is the mastermind behind the plantation project.

The five-miler begins at the top of the hill, near the entrance to the plantation area, and not too far from the planned site of the new Smith Mountain Lake YMCA.

The five-miler will start out going downhill, a welcome detail for runners.

Racers run out to a cul-de-sac, turn around and head back for the finish, Nolen said. But that same downhill at the race’s beginning leaves a gradual climb at the finish.
So far about 40 runners have signed up for the race, and Nolen would like to have at least 100 entrants. He’ll be one of them on Saturday, using the five miles as an add-on to his planned long run that day. Nolen’s training for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon next month.

But before the marathon, Nolen’s sites are set on making the upcoming five-miler a success. He wants it to become an annual event.

“We’re shooting for longevity,” he said.

Race information:
Johnny CASA Five-Miler and 5K Walk
Saturday, Oct. 21
8:30 a.m.
Entry fee: $23
Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place male and female winners There will be medals to those who place in the top-3 of their age-group.
Visit www.johnnycasa5miler-5kwalk.com for more information.

Directions to the race:

From Roanoke, take Virginia 116 to Burnt Chimney. Turn left into Virginia 122. The Lakewatch Plantation entrance will be on the left, about 1 mile after the Westlake Towne Center and before the Halesford Bridge.

Other local races:
Oct. 21: Bank of Fincastle fall 5K and 10K race, Fincastle, http://bankoffincastle.com/community/race/race.html; 473-2761

Oct. 21: Twin County Regional Healthcare Galax Autumn Days 5K run, www.galaxparks-rec.com

Nov. 4: Apple Valley 5K (cross country race); Gross’ Orchard, Bedford County; contact race director Theresa Boyes at 297-2709