It’s been more than two decades since Jackie Gruendel was in college, but the 44-year-old runner still competes — and excels — at college meets.
Gruendel, who lives in Clifton, is able to participate in meets as an unattached runner, and she ran 5:17.51 to place fifth in the women’s mile at the George Mason Patriot Games in January.
“I literally get on the line and I could, no joke, be these girls’ moms,” Gruendel said.
She said she’s slowed down some since she ran as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan, but she feels like her post-collegiate running career has been better than her college one.
In 1967, college student Doug Edwards fired the gun to start a race at a track meet for the first time.
“My track coach at the time handed me a gun… and a box of shells and said you can earn $5 starting a track meet down at the local high school,” Edwards said. “And I thought that was like dying and going to heaven. And so I did. And it just sort of always stuck with me.”
After a break from officiating that included graduating from college, serving in the Army, getting married and having children, Edwards, now 72, has been starting races at track meets since the late 1980s.
Seniors Obsaa Feda and Eldad Mulugeta led their Northwood High School cross country team to a second-place finish on Saturday at the Maryland state meet. It was also a D.C.-area school’s top finish in the 4A boys’ race since Walter Johnson’s runner-up finish in 2012.
The teammates ran together toward the finish line in the 4A boys’ race, but Feda crossed first, running the hilly three-mile course at Hereford High School in 15:44.05. Less than a second later, Mulugeta finished the race, earning a time of 15:44.29.
The third- and fourth-place runners finished 18 seconds after Feda and Mulugeta.
Northwood Coach Giovanni Reumante was amazed by what his team was able to accomplish.
“We set this goal at the end of last cross country season,” he said. “And so throughout indoor, outdoor and the entire summer, they worked toward this goal of being a competitor at the state meet.”
As students at St. Albans School and National Cathedral School prepare for the cross country conference championships, many of these runners are also getting ready for the fall play.
Jim Ehrenhaft, who coaches cross country for both Washington, D.C., schools and is also the assistant track coach in charge of distance, is just one of the coaches in the region who works with students balancing other commitments outside of running and school.
“It’s something that we just have to help them manage,” he said. “Because their interests certainly should be encouraged, and at the same time, when they made choices, there are consequences or repercussions, and we just, again, have to help them understand that and put it in perspective — that’s one of the big challenges.”
Taking up marathon training often means taking time away from the family to get in the miles, the long runs, the workouts. For Joe Divel, it turned into a way to create new bonds with his daughters.
Divel, 59, of Rockville, is in his fourth year with the Montgomery County Road Runners Club First Time Marathoners program and in his second year as a coach.
FTM prepares people to run a marathon — it doesn’t have to be their first — over a six-month period. And it’s more than just running buddies or training plans — Divel referred to the group as a family numerous times.
On a rainy, windy day, Cindy and Katie Walls talked about all kinds of things during their 26.2-mile run.
It wasn’t just any run. It was the Boston Marathon. They had been planning to each take the race at their own pace, but the mother and daughter decided to run it together as they were walking to the start on April 16.
“We trained throughout the winter all together so it was just kind of like another long run with a couple more spectators and a much grander finish line,” said Katie Walls, 28, of Washington, D.C.
Even though they normally run at different paces, Katie’s mom, Cindy Walls, 60, of Arlington, said because Katie was dealing with an injury, they were able to do most of the long runs in the training cycle together, too. Those runs provided an opportunity for them to chat for a few hours.
The Girls Gotta Run Foundation started out with an effort to get running shoes to girls in Ethiopia.
Now, more than a decade later, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit is working with 100 girls and 40 mothers in the African country.
And the Girls Gotta Run Foundation provides more than just shoes. Three-year scholarship programs in Sodo and Bekoji, Ethiopia, allow girls to stay in school while also running, receiving coaching and running gear, and learning life skills, according to the nonprofit’s website.
In a place where child marriage is not uncommon, running provides an opportunity for Ethiopian girls to have more control over their futures — even if they don’t become professional runners. Education is key in the scholarship programs.
Tyler Andrews has been training more than 9,000 feet above sea level in Quito, Ecuador, for the past two months as he prepares to attempt a 50k world record in April.
Down at Potomac River-level at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC Marathon, he had a chance to test himself at sea level – and he won in 2:20:45, nearly five minutes ahead of the second-place runner.
Both men’s and women’s titles will remain in the D.C. area after a sweep last year. Andrews lives part-time in Arlington.
“I feel super confident after this,” Andrews said after the race.
Andrews, 27, who lives part-time in Arlington, will aim to break the 50k world record of 2:43:38 on April 13 at a race put on by one of his sponsors, Hoka One One, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Read More
She won races at Oakton. She was a several-time All-American at American. Now more than a decade later, Keira Carlstrom is moving up in race distances and continuing to win.
Now Keira D’Amato, 33, she won the Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington D.C. Half Marathon in 1:16:31. Even though she lives near Richmond, she said she felt like a “hometown girl” running the D.C. race.
Vanessa Junkin is the marketing and public relations manager for Wicomico County, Md. Recreation, Parks and Tourism and has been writing for RunWashington since 2018. She profiled masters runner Jackie Gruendel earlier this year. Read more of her writing here.
Name: Vanessa Junkin
Self-described age group: F25-29
Residence: Salisbury, Md.
Occupation: Marketing & Public Relations Manager for Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Volunteer roles in the running world: I serve as the Eastern Shore Running Club secretary, lead two weekly group runs and volunteer at race finish lines and aid stations. Through ESRC, I’ve served as an aid station captain for the past two years at IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman. I’m also a coach for Girls on the Run and enjoy serving as a pacer for half marathons. Last year, I joined the Tim Kennard River Run race committee.
Why you run: To me, the running community is one of the best parts of running, and I have met so many amazing people. I also enjoy exploring new places and have a lot of fun at races. I like challenging myself and trying to improve upon previous times.
When did you get started running: I started running the summer before I entered high school, in 2004, because the soccer team required that we break an 8-minute mile. I did, but I didn’t make the team. It turned out I was better at running than soccer — or basketball, which I also tried out for. I ran outdoor track for four years in high school and cross country for my senior year.
Have you taken a break from running: Probably as a teenager. I only started tracking my miles in 2011, and I can’t remember how regular I was about running between track seasons.
Training shoe: Brooks Adrenaline
Coach or training group: I run with the Eastern Shore Running Club and have also been training with Endure Strong online, which I received access to through being a BibRave Pro.
The hardest race you’ve ever run: It would have to be the same as the most adventurous decision — the PHUNT Run in 2011 — because I wasn’t prepared. A couple other particularly tough (hilly) ones were the Big Sur International Marathon, which I ran in 2015, and Freedom’s Run, which I ran in 2018.
Most adventurous decision you’ve made with your running: I signed up for the 2011 PHUNT Run and planned to run the 20K, since my longest run at that point had been about 11 miles. I went with my boyfriend and his friend, and we ended up getting lost early on, so I followed them for the marathon route (they did the 50K). I’m not sure quite how far I ran since we got lost, but it was probably close to a marathon. It was like nothing I’d experienced before, and I cried partway through.
Running mentors: We have some longtime runners here in the Salisbury area that I admire.
My favorite place to run in the D.C. area is: Living in Salisbury, I still have a lot of exploring to do in the D.C. area, but I have enjoyed the places I’ve run so far. I made it to the Mt. Vernon Trail earlier this year and enjoyed my run there.
Favorite local trail: Again, I have much more to explore, but I really enjoyed a run I did on the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail a few years ago.
My best race was: The Tim Kennard River Run 10 Miler in 2012, where I ran a time of 1:19:42. I worked really hard for my goal of sub-1:20.
Favorite local race: Some of my favorite local (to Salisbury) races that I run every year are the Tim Kennard River Run in Salisbury, the Mike Sterling 10K in Crisfield and the Rehoboth Seashore Half Marathon.
Ideal post-run meal: I have a major sweet tooth — can dessert count as a meal? My go-to after a long run is a coffee smoothie from Rise Up Coffee. After races, it’s also nice to have a beer (a craft beer if available).
Favorite flavor of gel, gu, etc: I started using UnTapped syrup packets when I trained for the Vermont City Marathon in 2018, and I’ve been using that since.
Pet peeve: It bugs me when people post often about their “slow” runs with a pace attached. Everyone’s slow run is someone else’s fast run, and I want everyone to feel welcome in the running community.
Goals: I’ve had the goal of running a sub-50-minute 10K for a long time. I’ve run 10 marathons, and my first was my fastest, at 4:17:45, so I’d like to be able to beat that. I also set a goal this year of running somewhere new-to-me at least once a month, which has been fun.
Your advice for a new runner: Get fitted for shoes at a running shoe store. It’s OK to walk — even when you’ve been running a while. Find a running group — it’s fun, you’ll meet some awesome people and it’s good for motivation. You may want to look for an all-paces group or one that welcomes beginners. Be sure to hydrate and listen to your body.
Favorite running book: There are so many good ones, but one favorite is “Running: A Love Story” by Jen A. Miller.
Song in your head during a run: That depends on the run, but I really like the song “Default” by Django Django for running, and recently I’ve been listening to Sheer Mag.
Have you dealt with a major injury: Thankfully, no. (Knock on wood!)
Running quote: I love the motto “Do the work,” which is printed on the back of the shirts for another local Salisbury club, the 11:30 Club. Even though I can’t run at 11:30 a.m. often, I appreciate the motto and it’s certainly true.
Why is the D.C. area a great place to be a runner: I love that there are so many long trails. I also think it’s great that there are so many running clubs.
