Community Notebook: Register for Run for the Dream, Learn to Trace Family Roots

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, July 20, 2011

If you loved running in the inaugural Run for the Dream in May, you can now register for the 2012 race. Want to trace your family history, but don’t know where to start? A weekend workshop will equip you with the basics of historical research. Read on for more details.

2012 Run for the Dream Registration Open

Runners interested in participating in the second Run for the Dream Half Marathon and 8K Run/Walk can register online here. The half marathon will take place on May 20, 2012 in Williamsburg.

Early general registration for the half marathon is $75 until Oct. 1. Active duty members of the military can register for $45, and Wounded Warriors register for free. The first 3,000 registrants for the half marathon will receive a free pass to Busch Gardens and the first 6,000 registrants in either race will receive a free pass to Colonial Williamsburg, both to be used during the race weekend.

The Fit to Run, Fit to Dream 8K Run/Walk will take place the same weekend on May 19, 2012. Early registration is $40 until Oct. 1. Registration is $25 for active duty members of the military.

Both races start on the campus of The College of William and Mary, wind through CW’s Historic Area and finish at William and Mary’s Zable Stadium. The Half Marathon course also takes runners on the Colonial Parkway to the James River before returning to Williamsburg. A Race Expo will be held May 18 and 19 at the Colonial Williamsburg Woodlands Conference Center, which serves as headquarters for the race.

Proceeds from the race benefit An Achievable Dream, a K-12 school in Newport News, and military Wounded Warriors programs, dedicated to assisting and advocating for the severely wounded, ill and injured members of the armed forces and their families.

Genealogist Shares Research Tips

Amateur genealogists can learn searching techniques from genealogist Char McCargo Bah, who will teach how to trace family history on Saturday at Bruton Heights School. Bah is a native of Alexandria who specializes in tracing the history of African-American families.

In “Going from the Known to Unknown: Starting Your Genealogical Search,” Bah uses a case study to explore the use of oral histories, vital statistics and records to find family history. In the second part of the program, “A Close Look at Virginia’s Genealogical Documents,” guests can get hands-on experience examining documents.

The program starts at 3 p.m., followed by the workshop at 4:30 p.m. Both events are free, but free tickets are required. Call 1-800-HISTORY for reservations.