Newtown Runners Race In Half Marathon

By Andy Hutchison

FAIRFIELD — Competing with top-notch runners from the area, out of the area — and, in some instances, really far out of the area — several Newtown residents participated in the Fairfield Half Marathon, the biggest race of the Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Race event, on Sunday. Runners also participated in the 5K and 1K Fun Run for children.

The 13.1-mile half marathon, which draws runners from different parts of the country, and even out of the country, started and concluded at the Jennings Beach parking lot. Runners of a wide variety of ages traversed the at-times-hilly course through the streets of Fairfield to achieve a goal, have some fun ... and, in at least one case, honor a family friend.

Former Newtown resident Mike Shanahan, of Milford, ran as part of Team In Training, which raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Shanahan, like the other Team In Training runners, raised money through friends, family, and coworkers. He ran in honor of Greg Chion, a Newtown High School student-athlete who lost his battle with cancer in 2000.

“What I found most inspiring was almost everybody who made a donation has had some association with leukemia or lymphoma,” Shanahan said. “It was very rewarding to do this.

“I actually got inspired to do this by my daughter, who grew up with Greg. We were next-door neighbors,” Shanahan said of his daughter, Michelle, who has also run in Chion’s memory.

Members of the Chion family were on hand to cheer for Shanahan and watch the race. The streets were lined with fans who offered words of encouragement and cups of water.

“It was a lot of fun. It’s great with all of the supporters cheering you on. It’s very exciting,” said Shanahan, adding that this was his second half marathon.

Ethiopian Worku Beyi, 22, earned first-place honors — barely. He crossed the finish line in 1:04.11, just a second head of fellow countryman Ketma Nigusse. The fastest Newtown runner among the 2,597 reported finishers was 46-year-old Chris McDonnell of Sandy Hook. McDonnell finished in 1:36.12, good for 171st place overall.

Ken Sullivan and his daughter Katie Sullivan, both of Newtown, ran in the half marathon.

“I really enjoyed running with my daughter,” Sullivan, said.

Of course, running with his daughter wasn’t so easy.

“She left me at mile three and finished well ahead of my time.”

Katie, 25, finished in 1:57.36 and Ken, 54, finished in 2:14.02.

Although Ken Sullivan said he would have liked to come in with a faster time, he was pleased to see he can still compete. He did, after all, finish ahead of many younger runners.

“I found the race to be challenging, in fact, grueling at times,” he said, adding that the nice views of Long Island Sound and beautiful homes in along the shore helped make the run a little easier.

Bethany Ober of Newtown ran in the 5K race — her first road race. She is hoping to run the half marathon in the future.

“It feels pretty good to have done it,” Bethany Ober said of the 5K race. “It’s an exciting atmosphere.”

Following the races, a party and awards ceremony was held on the beach. There were bananas, yogurt, pizza, bagels and other energy-replenishing foods on hand. A massage table was also set up for help in the postrun recovery process.