Napa Valley Marathon 2012

On a calm bright morning, almost ideal for marathon running, Chris Mocko, 25, of San Francisco, Calif. (2:24:38), and Devon Crosby-Helms, 29, (pictured above with Ian Sharman who ran 2:40:53) also of San Francisco, emerged as victors at today’s 34th Annual Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon.   Devon set a course record of 2:39:37.  Mocko successfully defended his men’s title from last year. Crosby-Helms scored her second win at the Napa Valley Marathon (NVM). She also won the race in 2007. A sell-out field of 2,500 marathon entrants raced through the scenic Napa Valley wine-growing region as colorful air balloons hovered overhead and mid-day temperature reached the middle 70s.  First Ujena Fit Club member to finish was John Van Metre who placed second with 2:25:57.