After completing its fifth Grand Prix in 1998, the officers and directors of the Fredericksburg Area Running Club included a survey as part of membership renewals. One question asked, “What different races would you like to see in the area?” A consensus on the survey was a half-marathon in our area.
In the late 90s, half-marathon races were rare. 10-mile, 20-mile, and marathons were the popular long race distances. There were a couple in DC and Richmond and one on MCB Quantico. The local running clubs typically hosted these races.
Taking on the task, club President Debi Bernardes founded the Blue & Gray Half-Marathon. On September 23, 2000, the inaugural race was held on the Dahlgren Naval Base. The race was not included in the 2000 Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix. All subsequent versions were included in the Grand Prix.
That year, there were 219 finishers on a flat uncertified course with an average finish time of 2:05:17. The race was not on my running schedule. So, it is the only year I was not a participant or organizer. I was the club treasurer and spent the race reconciling race day receipts.
With the success of the 2000 race, Jim Thull took over as the race director. A group of FARC volunteers measured the course for USATF certification with a start venue of Potomac Elementary in Dahlgren town. The race was scheduled for September 15, 2001.
When September 11, 2001, happened, we had over 250 registered runners and no access to the Dahlgren Navel Base. The new course started off-base and went through the main gate. We could not use the new or old route with the increased security. By Thursday, we had canceled the race.
With the changes in the world from 2001, we needed to create a race course away from the base. In 2002, Jim was able to design a course starting in Central Park and finishing on Caroline Street. This course was the first one I measured for USATF certification.
Even with an early Sunday morning measurement, I was harassed by an off-duty Spotsylvania Deputy when measuring Fall Hill Avenue. He thought I needed to stay to the right rather than measuring the shortest possible route.
This course was fast but could not be used for records. There was a 200-foot net downhill, and the separation between the start and finish was too great.
At that time, Central Park was in its infancy. Cowan Boulevard was not complete across I-95. Walmart was under construction, and Fall Hill Avenue had two lanes. VA Runner was located in Westwood Village on William Street and became the race’s title sponsor.
With the full area tour, the city, county, and VDOT allowed us to use the Falmouth and Chatham bridges and River Road.
The current Hospitality House was a Shearton and hosted the start and awards ceremony. The Fredericksburg Tolley was used to shuttle runners back to the hotel from the finish.
This course was used for two years with over 400 participants each year. With the race in September, Pratt Park also hosted cross-country races. In 2003, cross-country markings sent some half marathoners off-course through the park’s woods.
For 2004, Jim wanted to eliminate the point-to-point course configuration, and the use of Fall Hill Avenue and the Chatham Bridger were becoming issues. Stafford County Parks wished to host the race in Pratt Park.
The city, county, and VDOT still allowed using the Falmouth Bridge and River Road. Working with the college, a loop around the Battlefield Complex and the central campus mall was used. The streets above the college were also used.
Jim wanted to give a race shirt that people would wear other than when running. For these two years, the race shirt was an embroidered collared polo. One year, the finisher award was flannel PJ bottoms.
The 2004 and 2005 races used Pratt Park with fields in the 400s during September.
In 2006, VA Runner opened their store in Central Park and wanted the start venue there. Lynne Millholland took over as the race director. Stafford County still wanted a race at Pratt Park in September, so Jim managed a 5 km there. Blue Gray was moved to the December Sunday in conjunction with the Battle of Fredericksburg Rememberance to avoid conflict.
One lane of Cowan Boulevard was used to access downtown via Hospitalization Hill. In prior years, the race went down Fall Hill. In 2006, runners were introduced to going up Hospitalization Hill and then onto the Cowan Boulevard Hill. These were in the last two miles of the race. When the Marine Corps Historic Half began in 2008, they incorporated these two hills into their course.
The new course used a loop through downtown and the path around the MWC Battlefield Complex. With the many street crossings, volunteer requirements were high. Some intersections were not monitored. It was a Sunday morning, and we had to look out for ourselves.
The wood stairs and boardwalk by Snowden Pond were used to get from Mary Washington Blvd to Caroline Street.
In 2007, Tara Van Horm took over as the race director. VA Runner took over as the race organizer from the Fredericksburg Area Running Club. With the December time frame, participation dropped below 400.
In 2008, Jeff Van Horn asked Race Timing Unlimited and me to take over as Race Director and host organization. VA Runner was still the title race sponsor, providing awards and shirts.
Unable to find sufficient volunteers to manage the downtown loop, an out-and-back format with a loop around the MWC field was adopted.
At about this time, half-marathon races were becoming popular. In the five years this course was used, the race and a companion 5km sold to capacity.
The 2009 race had memorable weather conditions. Overnight lows did not drop below freezing, and the snow never hit. However, 35 degrees and rain made miserable conditions for most.
For 2013, runners wanted us to eliminate the wooden stairs from the course, and the city wanted us to stop crossing William Street. With the construction of the Heritage Trail, there were extra off-road paved paths that were used,
For 2013, snow was expected to start at 9:30 am. With a 7:30 am start, we felt most of the field would not be impacted by poor weather. Flurries began at 7 am. The sleet and freezing rain did hold off until 9:30 am. We got the entire field in without issue and with good running stories.
The 2014 race had the peak number of finishers, with 779.
In 2015, the underpass of Fall Hill Avenue was completed. This route eliminated the dangerous road crossing and reduced the course footprint on the roads below the college. This area of the city was experiencing event fatigue, and the modified course reduced the rising conflicts.
After the 2015 race, a national chain purchased VA Runner. The owners of the chain were not as tuned into local events. The chain continued sponsoring the race in 2016. However, due to failing financial positions and a reduction in product demand, they could not continue in 2017.
For 2017, I needed to find a new start location and course configuration. I worked with the college. Stafford County and the city with options and finally landed at Old Mill Park.
I renamed the race the Fredericksburg Blue & Gray Half Marathon. This name eased confusion with the Gettysburg Blue & Gray Half Marathon, which started in the mid-2000s.
My initial idea included loops on the Canal Path and Heritage Trail, crossing the Falmouth Bridge onto the Belmont Ferry Farm Trail. Pratt Park would be used as the midpoint. The most challenging part of the course would be the switchbacks heading into Brooks Park.
I got approval from Stafford County and VDOT to cross the Falmouth Bridge. When meeting with the city, they would not approve access to the Falmouth Bridge. So, I had to find five more miles in the city.
Construction on Fall Hill Avenue with the adjacent bike path was completed in 2016. This path gave us access to Celebrate Virginia South and the underpopulated Gordon Shelton Boulevard.
Even with the uphill at mile 5 rather than mile 12, I was not enthused with the layout. Captain Layton, now Fredericksburg Chief of Police, convinced the City Special Events committee that runners liked the challenge of the hill.
This course has been used since 2017. When Race Timing Unlimited was sold to Arsenal Events in 2020, Arsenal took over race management. Even with COVID, the race continued uninterrupted. I’ve enjoyed participating and running the hill for the past three years.
Many large city marathons have introduced half-marathon companion races. Most of the half-marathons outdraw the full-distance races.
Over the years, only Bob Brammer has completed all 22 Blue & Gray Half Marathons. You’ll see him and me on the start line on December 3, 2023.