By Ashley Simpson
Washington, DC
November 5, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Right at sunrise on Saturday with temperature in the 40s, 224 participants finished the 2ndannual Undy 5000 in Washington, DC. The 5K event is part of a 13-city series that encourages participants to run in their underwear to draw attention to their bottoms – and colon cancer.
In keeping with the theme of the race to raise awareness, the Colon Cancer Alliance (race organizers) gave participants pairs of shorts to don instead of the traditional race t-shirt. Many did not put the blue race shorts over their spandex, though, because they already wore their own underwear on top of their running tights. It was a colorful sight with styles ranging from tropical print boxers to neon pink thongs.
Virginians dominated the out-and-back course along the Potomac River at the West Potomac Park event. Dennis Billings, 42, of Woodbridge (left) won the race 18:34 and Mary Davison, 38, of Bristow (right) took the women’s title in 19:15.
“The course was flat and fast, even though the wind was against me both ways,” said Billings holding his colorful winners plaque and wearing his finisher’s medal around his neck.
Billings, who races almost every weekend, enjoys events like the Undy 5000. “There’s lots of camaraderie and good causes at these smaller races,” and he added. “It’s also fun to see people in their underwear.”
Kevin Carroll, 27, took runner-up honors in 19:12. Todd Gerarden, 24, held off Jack Tade 47, for third place beating him 20:03 to 20:05.
In the women’s competition Davison said it felt great to win a race after being sidelined by illness for a few months. Dionis Gauvin, 37, finished in second place in 20:13 and Erika Miller, 30, was third in 20:42.
Chrystel Christensen, visiting from Salt Lake City, UT and sporting black polka dot underwear with pink bows on top of her spandex had this to say about the race: “It was an awesome run with great weather and a perfect course.” While Christensen may not have run her best 5K she did place sixth in the women’s division with a time of 21:23.
Christensen was not the only out of town runner at the Undy 5000. A group of family and friends traveled to the race from Boston, MA. Inspired by two loved ones affected by colon cancer, Teresa Esposito said, “It was the closest colon race to Boston that we could all make it to.” Esposito shared that it was an important cause to her because she lost her cousin, Ralph, to colon cancer. They group participated under the name of “Ralph’s Buttheads” and together raised almost $4,000 for the cause.
The Colon Cancer Alliance, who hosted and organized the race, was pleased with the turnout. “We raised a significant amount more than from last year’s race,” said Erin Ehrlich, the Community Engagement Coordinator for the CCA. “Unfortunately, it was cold so there weren’t too many people in just their skivvies.”
Among the runners and walkers in the Undy 5000, several colon cancer survivors participated and the top four of these finishers were also presented with awards. In addition to the 5K, the event also featured an untimed One Mile Fun Run and despite the chilly temperature all finished with smiles on their faces.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Time
===== ===== ====================== ========
1 194 Mary Davison 38 19:15
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Time
===== ===== ====================== ========
1 170 Dennis Billings 42 18:34
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 13 (NET TIME)
1 232 Catherine Herrick 11 26:57 26:48 8:38
MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 13 (NET TIME)
1 106 Eric Lu 7 47:04 46:50 15:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 14 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 168 Alia Badawi 18 25:09 25:01 8:04
2 668 Kristen Chelak 19 26:57 26:48 8:38
3 662 Soriayah Zaghab 19 26:57 26:49 8:38
MALE AGE GROUP: 14 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 258 Michael MacDonald 16 25:33 25:22 8:10
2 51 Alex Clayton 18 26:07 26:02 8:23
3 265 Anes Mehai 19 26:29 26:19 8:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 255 Amara Lewis 23 20:57 20:56 6:45
2 261 Kate Malone 25 22:23 22:16 7:10
3 669 Meagan Reed 27 22:32 22:30 7:15
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 98 Kevin Carroll 27 19:12 19:12 6:11
2 218 Todd Gerarden 24 20:03 20:02 6:27
3 272 Brian Molloy 28 20:22 20:20 6:33
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 194 Mary Davison 38 19:15 19:15 6:12
2 215 Dionis Gauvin 37 20:13 20:12 6:30
3 268 Erika Miller 30 20:42 20:42 6:40
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 208 Jordan Fenlon 30 21:28 21:22 6:53
2 665 Dwayne Hampton 33 22:13 22:11 7:09
3 210 Brian Flahaven 34 22:31 22:24 7:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 303 Debbie Shoop 41 28:56 28:52 9:18
2 31 Katherine Quinn 41 31:08 30:57 9:58
3 259 Nancy MacDonald 49 31:49 31:36 10:10
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 170 Dennis Billings 42 18:34 18:33 5:59
2 317 Jack Tade 47 20:05 20:04 6:28
3 214 Ronan Gately 43 20:49 20:48 6:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 186 Cindy Conant 50 20:52 20:52 6:43
2 661 Claire Yoder 56 29:29 29:15 9:25
3 180 Josefina Cabatu 51 33:29 33:23 10:45
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 125 Kevin Murchie 52 23:58 23:49 7:40
2 121 Newton Kendig 54 24:09 24:06 7:46
3 107 John Marshall 50 30:04 29:49 9:36
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 656 Joanne Wilson 67 64:14 63:38 20:29
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 640 Robert Trost 65 24:28 24:27 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
1 295 Chan Robbins 74 24:39 24:38 7:56
2 221 John Gluck 74 25:21 25:19 8:09
3 648 Maynard Weyers 75 27:57 27:56 9:00
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