Komen Global Race for the Cure Report

By James Moreland
Washington, DC
June 4, 2011
For the Washington Running Report

Here it was a cacophony. It was a city of runners and walkers. The weather was glorious. “Isn’t it great to know that every year more participants of the Susan B. Komen Global Race for the Cure are wearing the [Proud Pink] of the survivor?” Everyone is touched by someone in their lives as proof of the tens of thousands of participants, nearly 7,000 who ran in the 5K event.  For several hours the river of humanity streamed up and down main street Washington, DC to celebrate life, remembrance, hope, and the search for the cure.

At times the music was deafening for those closest to it but they were announcing their presence to the world. There were many testimonials and videos on the big screen. Most telling was the Komen plan to insist on even more access to have earlier screening and prevention. To let the health industry and Congress know that some awareness was not enough and that a cure for everyone would be relentlessly sought after.

The event took up nearly half of the mall from Third to Seventh Street with the music beginning at dawn. The 5K running began at 8:00 AM and hundreds of runners were still getting lined up. It would take many minutes for everyone to cross the ChronoTrack mats but they would insure runners of an accurate net time. Many of the runners were really not here to race today. Still, they were used to lining up for a race. Very few were racing for the best clock time; they were having the best time participating.

Many of the runners did not understand the need for age, which is to clarify their competition. First you can be the overall winner, than you can be the best in your age group. Nearly all the large races have five year age groups. For this event many people left off their age or responded, “fifties,” or “old.” Some just gave us the month and day and left us to ponder. For this event the two main categories are survivor and everyone else. This was their day to be proud and to celebrate and earn our applause.

Close to forty thousands others composed of friends and family started their parade-like celebration at 8:15 a block away. All would unite in the next two hours at the finish line.

Wilson Komen (left), one of the elite runners in the region, is back and added to his winning streak his second overall win in the last two weeks in a very nice 15:35. Four twenty-something runners battled down the final straightaway on Independence for the next spot. The top masters division runner was Henry Wigglesworth, 53, who recently moved back to Washington after have been away for a couple decades. His time was a national–class 17:05.

Top ranked Michelle Miller bolted out early for the honor of being the top woman in  the race, finishing in 17:35.  With more than twice as many women in the race as men, her time was just a stride behind the 11^th fastest man, Tom Beekhuysen, who was the second masters division finisher.

The next six women all finished faster than 19:00. The sixth place finisher, Katie Sutton, 31, of Kirkwood, MO was the first survivor. Her time of 18:44 proved she still has plenty of life in her.

Hundred of volunteers donated their time to make this event a success.

Top ten men

Pl Div/Tot  Num  Name                Age Hometown         Gun T Net T Pace  
== ======== ==== =================== === ================ ===== ===== === 
1   1/387   7942 Wilson Komen         33 Washington DC    15:35 15:34  5:01 
2   1/449   4955 Jason Myers          25 Alexandria VA    16:09 16:08  5:12 
3   2/449   7988 Andrew Sovonick      25 Gaithersburg MD  16:12 16:12  5:13 
4   3/449   7084 Matthew Logan        25 Washington DC    16:15 16:15  5:14 
5   4/449   7527 Chris Pruitt         28 Arlington VA     16:19 16:19  5:16 
6   5/449   6625 Jossi Fritz-Mauer    26 Ardmore PA       16:32 16:32  5:20 
7   6/449   1982 Brian McCabe         25 Washington DC    16:40 16:40  5:22 
8   1/182   1848 John Black           23 Arlington VA     16:53 16:52  5:26 
9   1/114   7142 Henry Wigglesworth   53 Washington DC    17:05 17:05  5:31 
10  2/387  11145 Daniel Yi            31 Alexandria VA    17:17 17:16  5:34

Photo below: Henry Wigglesworth, 53, make it look easy, finishing ninth overall.

Top Ten Women

Pl Div/Tot  Num  Name                Age Hometown         Gun T Net T Pace  
== ======== ==== =================== === ================ ===== ===== ===== 
1   1/814   6837 Michelle Miller      30 Damascus MD      17:36 17:35  5:40 
2   2/814   7151 Meghan Ridgley       32 Vienna VA        18:15 18:15  5:53 
3   3/814  11449 Catherine Seaton     32 Raleigh NC       18:27 18:26  5:56 
4   1/533   7800 Janet Whittaker      37 Washington DC    18:31 18:30  5:58 
5   1/1086  2709 Kaitlin Sheedy       28 Arlington VA     18:41 18:37  6:00 
6   4/814  42648 Katie Sutton         31 Kirkwood MO      18:44 18:44  6:02 
7   5/814   4021 Martha Nelson        30 Chevy Chase MD   18:59 18:59  6:07 
8   2/1086  7443 Terri Firedline      29 Fairfax VA       19:40 19:24  6:15 
9   2/533   3917 Chrissy Graham       37 Olney MD         19:31 19:29  6:17 
10  1/100   5210 Paige Callahan       18 Annapolis MD     19:56 19:48  6:23

Photo below: first female masters division finisher Sandrine Falgon, 40, hurries after Kelly Devine just off the 20:00 mark.