Arnold 5K Pump & Run / 5K Run

The 12th annual Arnold 5K Pump and Run was one of the 46 athletic events held during the 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 850 athletes registered for the Arnold 5K Pump and Run from thirty-one States, Washington D.C. and Canada, this event is the largest of its' kind in the World. The limit of 850 athletes was reached in just under twelve hours. 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.

Fifthteen of the top twenty men benched the maximum 30 reps.  Chillicothe’s Zach Holbert (25) lifted his body weight 30 times and ran the second fastest time of the day with his 16:18 to defend his 2011 title and win in 1:18.  Jamestown, New York’s Travis Prejean (25) lifted his body weight 30 times and ran a 16:36 to take home runner up honors in 1:36.  Haddon Township, New Jersey’s Joseph Norton (27) ran the fastest time of the day (16:04) and lifted his body weight 28 times to improve a spot from last year to capture the bronze in 2:04.  Washington, D.C. Vaughan O’Brien (36) the 2010 winner and last year’s runner up benched his weight 30 times and ran 17:12 to finish fourth in 2:12.  Last year’s bronze winner Cincinnati’s Robert Messmer (36) lifted his weight 30 times and ran 17:22 to finish fifth in 2:22

Cincinnati’s Ryan Smith (27) lifted his weight 29 times and ran 17:22 to finish sixth in 2:52.  Westerville’s Nathan Aichele (30) lifted his weight 30 times and ran 18:02 to finish seventh in 3:02.  Columbus’ Blaze O’Brien (41) lifted 90 percent of his weight 30 times and ran 18:07 to finish eighth in 3:07.  Chesapeake’s Eddie Neel (28) lifted his weight 30 times and ran 18:26 to place ninth in 3:26.  Crystal Lake, Illinois’ Nic Aubert (24) lifted his weight 26 times and ran 16:28 to round out the top ten with his 3:28.

Five time winner Fenton, Michigan’s Lisa Veneziano (47) who missed last year’s race due to the weather, returned to the victory stand as she turned in the faster time of the day with her 18:46 and lifted 60 percent of her weight 30 times to win with her 3:46.  The former Dublin resident placed eleventh overall.  Fourteen of the top fifteen women all successfully bench the maximum 30 times.  Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania’s Mary Kreis (42) who finished eighth last year ran 19:10 and bench 60 percent of her weight 30 times to captured the runner up spot in 4:10.  Columbus’ Chelsey Vascura (33) ran 19:38 and benched 70 percent of her weight 30 times to win the bronze in 4:38.  Williamstown, West Virginia’s Cynthia Martinsen (46) ran 20:46 and benched 60 percent of her weight 30 times to place fourth in 5:46.  Columbus’ Allison Wendt (44) ran 21:05 and lifted 60 percent of her weight 30 times to finish fifth in 6:05.

Galena’s Wendy Billings (40) ran 21:53 and lifted 60 percent of her weight thirty times to place sixth in 6:53.  Columbus’ Cookie O’Neal (59) ran 22:05 and lifted 50 percent of her weight thirty times to place seventh in 7:05.  Hillsboro’s Tara Beery (39) ran 22:51 and lifted 70 percent of her weight 30 times to finish eighth in 7:51. Columbus’ Molly Disabato (47) ran 23:04 and lifted 70 percent of her weight thirty times to place ninth in 8:04.  Denver, Colorado’s Andrea Hill (34) ran 19:49 and lifted 70 percent of her weight twenty three times to round out the top ten with her time of 8:19

The event had the support of the entire running community. RUNOHIO's Matt McGowan served as co race director along with Tim Pancher. 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. Nathan Ellis of the Columbus Running Company provided computer chip timing for the race. Jeff Sheard and UltraFit – USA provided finish line support and cross-country coaches from Bishop Watterson High School and Whetstone High School worked the race.

The Arnold Sports Festival is the brainchild of Arnold 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. About 175,000 sports fans saw more than 18,000 athletes competing in 46 sports including 13 Olympic sports.

Contact and Registration Information

Event chair: Matt McGowan
Media contact: Brent LaLonde

5K Pump & Run / 5K Results

2012 Arnold 5K Pump & Run Results

2012 Arnold 5K Results

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