Second Empire Grand-Prix Series

Run for Our Heroes 5K – April 28

Raleigh, NC – Celebrating its 4th year, the Run for our Heroes 5K is dedicated to the memory of Raleigh Police Officers who have died in the line of duty. Held in conjunction with National Peace Officers Memorial Week, the race is one of several local events, including the Five-O Memorial Bike Ride, which commemorates the lives of Raleigh’s fallen heroes. A portion of proceeds from each is donated to the Raleigh Police Memorial Foundation. The Foundation serves many needs, including providing financial support and assistance to the families of Raleigh police officers who have been killed or seriously injured while ...

WakeMed Distance Festival 10K – May 5

Raleigh, NC -- In conjunction with the Town of Cary and WakeMed-Cary, the Cary Rotary Club will present the 19th Annual WakeMed Cary Distance Festival on May 5. The ninth event in the Series, the Distance Festival includes both a 5K and 10k. However, to receive Grand-Prix points, you must run the 10K. This year the Festival has a new location. It will be held at Waverly Place in Cary. Waverly Place is located at the corner of Tryon Rd. and Kildaire Farm Road. The start/finish area will be located next to the Whole Foods Market. Proceeds of this event will benefit ...

NC Roadrunner’s Club Invitational 10K – May 20

Cary, NC -- The tenth and final race in this year’s Second Empire Grand-Prix Spring Series is the North Carolina Roadrunners Club Invitational 10K, which also happens to be the 2012 Road Runners Club of America National 10K Championship. Now in its 14th year, the 10K will be held in conjunction with a half marathon, however, the 10K is the race you must compete in to receive Grand-Prix points. Two years ago, the race moved to a new course that leverages the roads, trails and greenways of Cary and Umstead State Park. The race will start on Weston Parkway near Bandwidth.com ...

Second Empire Grand-Prix Series – Spring 2012

The Spring portion of the Second Empire Grand-Prix Series 2012 is moving swiftly to its conclusion. St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint 5K on April 21 boasted nearly 500 runners, and Run for Our Heroes 5K on April 28 had an incredible turnout. Nearly 1,500 runners, joggers, walkers, and children honored Raleigh police officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

Paul Springer was the overall men’s winner for both of those races, turning in a 16:15 performance at the Spring Sprint and a blazing fast 15:29 at Run for Our Heroes. Paul is also sitting atop the overall men’s standings in the Grand-Prix, and is nearly 500 points ahead of second and third place racers, Ryan Laytham and Alex Pearce.

As for the women, Lorraine Young set a new course record at St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint with a time of 18:31. She was followed by teen wonder Sophia Ebihara, who is currently first place in the overall women’s Series Standings. However, Debra Morgan is hot on Sophia’s heels — less than 300 points now separate the two. WRAL anchor and runner extraordinaire Kelcey Carlson took top honors at the Run for Our Heroes 5K with an impressive 19:42. Debra Morgan finished second overall in 20:12.

Complete race results for St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint and Run for Our Heroes 5K are now posted online. Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding those.

The Run for Our Heroes 5K was the eighth in the 10-race Second Empire Grand-Prix Spring Series. We hope you’ll consider competing in the remaining two races. Those who run at least six Series races will qualify for prizes and will be invited to an Awards Luncheon at Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern on Saturday, July 14, 2012.

The next Series race is the WakeMed Distance Festival 10K on Saturday, May 5. The Festival offers both a 5K and a 10K. However, you must run the 10K to get Series points. The tenth and final race is the NC Roadrunner’s Club Invitational 10K on Sunday, May 20 in Cary.