The 8th annual Arnold 5K Pump and Run was one of the athletic events held during the 20th annual Arnold Fitness Weekend, which is billed as "The Largest Fitness Expo in the World". Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand again this year to start the race. Governor Schwarzenegger said the "The Pump and Run is a true test of one's fitness as it combines both strength and endurance."

With 700 athletes registered for the Arnold 5K Pump and Run from twenty-six States, Washington D.C., Canada and London, England, this event is the largest of its' kind in the World. The race started on High Street at the north end of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, ran towards downtown, by the Nationwide Arena, around Goodale Park, through the Short North, North Market area, and the Arena District, and finished behind the Convention Center.

Before the runners started their run they spent the morning weighing in and bench pressing to reduce their running times. The lifting rules were: Men 39 and under bench pressed 100% of their weight, men 40 - 49 did 90% of their weight, men 50 and over benched 80% of their weight, men 60-69 did 70% and men 70 and over lifted 60%. Women 39 and under benched pressed 70% of their weight, women 40 - 49 benched 60% of their weight, women 50-59 benched 50% of their weight and women 60 and over lifted 40%. For each lift a runner's time was reduced by 30 seconds with a maximum of 30 reps counted.

The eleven of the first twelve men all maxed out with thirty lifts so it came down to who could record the fastest 5km time. New Martinsville, West Virginia's Matt Quinet (24) ran 16:43 to record a winning time of 1:43. Westerville's Nathan Aichele (26) improved his run time by a minute (16:56) and lifted three more reps this year to improve from his 2007 eighth place finish to take home runner up honors in 1:56. Vaughan O'Brien (32) of Washington D.C. repeated his 2007 bronze finish as he ran 17:12 to finish in 2:12. Ann Arbor, Michigan's Jamie Cope (26) who finished second in 2006 ran 17:43 to finish fourth in 2:43. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Tim Savisky (47) ran 18:13 to place fifth in 3:13.

Chillicothe's Zach Holbert (21) ran 16:18 and lifted 26 reps to record a 3:18. Last year's winner Westerville's Damien Brandon (31) ran 18:40 to place seventh in 3:40. Hermitage, Pennsylvania's James Boyd (40) ran 18:54 to finish in 3:54. Davidson, Michigan's Tony Ketchmark (45) ran a 19:04 to record a 4:04. Massillon's Bryan Gliba (32) dropped one place from last year with his 19:05 and his 4:05 to round out the top ten. Miamiville's Brian List ran a 15:24 to record the fastest time of the day and his 17 lifts placed him 43rd in 6:54.

Nine of the top ten women completed the 30 lifts. Fenton, Michigan's Lisa Veneziano (43) made it a four-peat with the fastest time of the day for the women of 18:17 to record a 3:17 win and sixth place overall finish. McDonough, Georgia's Theresa Winterhalte (43) repeated her second place 2007 finish with her 20:29 and 5:29 overall time. Hillsboro's Tara Berry (35) ran 21:23 to record a 6:23 bronze finish. Ashland's Andrea White (25) ran a 19:36 and completed 26 lifts to place fourth in 6:36. Columbus' Cookie O'Neal (55) improved on her 2007 sixteenth place finish with her 21:44 and 6:44 fifth place finish.

Athens' Janalee Stock (53) ran a 22:05 to place sixth in 7:05. Grosse Ile, Michigan's Susan Armiak (36) ran a 22:39 to record a 7:39. Westerville's Marilyn Hundley (51) ran 23:56 to place eighth in 8:26. Reynoldsburg's Carlene Zeches (44) ran 23:51 to record a 8:51. Canton's Vicki Miller (44) ran 24:12 to place tenth in 9:12.

The event had the support of the entire running community. RUNOHIO's Matt McGowan served as race director, co-race director Tim Pancher and his workers along with the help of the U.S Marines oversaw the bench pressing. Jeff McGowan and Run Time Systems scored the event. Jeff Glaze and Premier Sports provided computer chip timing for the race, Jeff Sheard and Ultrafit-USA provided course support, while cross-country coaches from Bishop Watterson High School, Whetstone High School and St Francis DeSales High School and members of the Columbus Road Runners and Columbus Running Company worked the race.

The Arnold Fitness Weekend is the brainchild of Governor Schwarzengger and James Lorimer, who have nurtured what began as a world-class bodybuilding competition in Columbus in the 1978 into one of the worlds most popular and innovative sports festivals. The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest three-day sports festival in the World with more than 17,000 athletes competing in 37 sports of which 13 are played at the Olympic level.

Results are on RUNOHIO's web site: http://www.runohio.com

Pictures will be posted later on: http://www.runohio.com

and also on www.FairfieldPhoto.com