Record Finishes Highlight Chicago Marathon and Chickahominy Run

Runners from the Colonial Road Runners (CRR) made significant strides last weekend, participating in two major events: the fifth annual Chickahominy River Bridge Run 10K and 5K and the 47th annual Chicago Marathon. Both races achieved record participation, showcasing the growing enthusiasm for competitive running in the region.

On October 11, 2025, the Chickahominy River Bridge Run attracted a record 134 finishers, a notable increase from the 91 finishers recorded the previous year. Organized by the CRR, this event benefited the Grove Christian Outreach Center and took place at the scenic Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Participants navigated a course that is mostly flat, except for the challenging incline of the Chickahominy River bridge, which rises 52 feet.

The following day, October 12, 2025, the Chicago Marathon saw an unprecedented 54,351 finishers from 120 countries. Among them, CRR members Adam Otstot and Emma Rogers led the charge, finishing with impressive times of 2:30:55 and 2:44:48, respectively. The Chicago course is known for its flat and fast layout, making it ideal for personal bests.

Brody Alford, a visiting 15-year-old from Oxford, Mississippi, emerged as the men’s winner of the Chickahominy race with a time of 38:19. He was closely followed by two accomplished CRR runners, Dana Hayden and Emily Honeycutt, who clocked in at 38:36 and 38:38, respectively. Hayden had recently set a state 10K record for women aged 45-49 at the Democracy Dash 10K, and her performance at Chickahominy came just 11 seconds shy of that record.

The Chickahominy River Run also featured notable performances from other CRR members. Rob Perkinson finished in 2:35:43, John Dyar completed the race in 2:50:38, and Christopher Minty followed closely with 2:56:13. Women’s results saw Aimee Gianoukos at 3:25:21, Deelyn Robinson at 3:28:55, and Jason Kirkpatrick at 3:48:47.

The event’s growing popularity can be attributed, in part, to the participation of families from Tabb Elementary School, which contributed to a lively atmosphere. Among the 5K finishers were winners Rayshad Johnson, with a time of 21:50, and Rebecca Thayer, who completed the race in 28:10.

Both Hayden and Honeycutt shared their experiences, highlighting the community spirit of the event. Hayden expressed her delight at the turnout, stating, “It was great to see so many familiar faces… and to be part of such a well-organized event for a great cause.” Honeycutt noted her satisfaction with tying her personal record, attributing her success to the camaraderie on the course.

At the Chicago Marathon, Otstot aimed for a personal record of under 2:27:23, finishing at 2:30:55. He reflected on his experience, stating, “Even though I didn’t reach or exceed my goal time, I’m proud of how I raced.” Rogers also shared her insights, noting her strategy of running conservatively to avoid hitting the wall, resulting in a strong performance with a negative split.

The Chickahominy race served as a CRR Grand Prix event, making it eligible for state records. Notably, several age group records were broken, including those by Alexey Popov in the men’s 40-44 category and Hayden in the women’s 45-49 category. Overall, the event showcased not only competitive spirit and personal achievements but also the strength of the local running community.

With an impressive turnout and remarkable performances, both the Chickahominy River Bridge Run and the Chicago Marathon underscored the growing enthusiasm for long-distance running and community engagement in sports. The achievements of individual runners reflect a broader commitment to health and fitness within their communities.