Inaugural Race has Room to Grow
By James Moreland
September 27, 2008
Sterling, VA
For the Washington Running Report
With so many races competing for runners, it is hard to draw large crowds. The Wells Fargo Run for the Door 5K started off their first year with a lot of pluses. The race venue had huge parking loot with tons of room for this race to grow ten times as large. The course was coned off well so that even with its many turns, runners could easily stay on course. If you cannot have a fast course, make it real interesting.
Even before the runners lined up to get started, the air was thick with music from the booming music tent. There were fresh bagels and fruit for after the race and bless them, the bottled water was nestled in a bed of ice. After the past few days of chilling rain, runners might have forgotten how warm September really remains. Indeed, the race was a little nervous as the early morning skies contained some thunder and lightning. Fortunately that passed and runners were met with the lightest of drizzle, though the humidity made the air thick.
Ray (#1) and Cathy (#2) Pugsley of Potomac River Running both came out to help the race get started. Usually one of them has to stand on the sidelines. Today both were reasonable bets to finish in the top three and not even a long shot to win it all. Justin Fritzius of Purcellville, VA started on the far side with Pugsley front and center. Fritzius had won three 5Ks out right last summer in less than sixteen minutes. In 2008, he added three more victories in the summer, including the prestigious Annapolis 10 Mile.
The course had runners bolting around the shopping center in a half mile loop before cruising up Ridgetop Circle. The course’s “hills” were really mild and the “ridge top” reached at mile one was by no means daunting. The bear climbing on your back was the humidity as runners hastened down the long hill just after mile one. By this time, Fritzius had built a small cushion over Pugsley but could not shake fellow Purcellville racer Chris Schaeffer. At the tape, the photo makes it look as if Fritzuis is out for a stroll, crossing the line in 16:04, yet Scheaffer (16:07) is close enough to be partially blocked out of the photo.
Meanwhile, Pugsley (16:21) had all he could handle from fourth place David Miller of Leesburg VA, who ran 16:25. The race generously went three deep in ten year age groups and the winners in those divisions were uncontested. Fifth place Gary Grilliot (44) of Reston, VA hammered the masters in a spiffy 17:25. Michael Arrowsmith (149) of Reston, VA glided to glory in 18:51. Richard Adams Jr. (57) of Herndon, VA whiplashed his division bolting out to a forty second lead by the mile and taking it on home in 19:18. With no one competing in the 60-69 division, Maynard Weyers (72) of Alexandria, VA came roaring home to a cheering crowd, emphatically winning in an excellent 24:45.
Julia Rudd (25) of Herndon, VA has run a 5:06 mile this year and was hoping for something in the 17s. That was a tall order in today’s sticky weather. The top five runners (all men) were gone in a flash. She could latch onto to Michael Arrowsmith to help stay on pace, which she did, winning easily in 18:55. Cathy Pugsley started conservatively but by midway it seemed certain she would hold the number two spot, which she did in 19:09. Anita Freres had a great summer including an overall win and a top 5K in 20:09. She usually gets faster as the race wears on but she was not going to catch third place Danielle Russell (44) of Ashburn, VA. Russell, a new face, had an excellent 19:23. Freres, possibly aware that so-to-be-masters Jeanette Dumbrell was on her tail, pulled out her fastest 5K of the year (so far) in 19:56. Dumbrell was close in 20:04 to win her division. In the photo above, Lauren Dalton, just 13, of Sterling, VA gets a nice effort to win in 23:31.
Richards Adams Jr. (57) of Herndon, MD was seventh overall in 19:18. He hurried back to the finish line so he be the first one over to the massage table set up for runners.
Awards
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 3 Julia Rudd 25 Herndon VA 18:55 18:54 6:05
2 2 Cathy Pugsley 39 Sterling VA 19:09 19:09 6:10
3 103 Danielle Russell 44 Ashburn VA 19:23 19:23 6:15
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 127 Justin Fritzius 24 Purcellville VA 16:04 16:04 5:11
2 132 Chris Sheaffer 24 Purcellville VA 16:07 16:07 5:11
3 1 Ray Pugsley 39 Sterling VA 16:21 16:20 5:16
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 – 19
1 182 Lauren Dalton 13 Sterling VA 23:31 23:31 7:34
2 109 Natalie Nelson 11 Sterling VA 26:55 26:55 8:40
3 139 Kelly Miller 13 Leesburg VA 29:14 29:13 9:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 – 19
1 75 Michael Arrowsmith 19 Ashburn VA 18:51 18:50 6:04
2 138 Matt Gambogi 14 Leesburg VA 20:22 20:22 6:34
3 145 Brenden Veler 12 Bristow VA 25:30 25:30 8:13
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 – 29
1 111 India Imbs 23 Ashburn VA 26:01 25:54 8:20
2 65 Beth Nagel 26 Ashburn VA 27:24 27:23 8:49
3 70 Vivian Kim 29 Sterling VA 29:12 29:07 9:22
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 – 29
1 83 David Miller 25 Leesburg VA 16:25 16:25 5:17
2 69 Daniel Huertas 28 Herndon VA 25:15 25:09 8:06
3 22 Lawrence Lee 29 Sterling VA 25:23 25:16 8:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 – 39
1 97 Jeanette Dumbrell 39 Falls Church VA 20:04 20:03 6:28
2 106 Diane Lathom 37 Ashburn VA 22:09 22:07 7:08
3 38 Christine Cosgrave 33 Herndon VA 26:38 26:33 8:33
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 – 39
1 110 Robert Van Dyke 34 Ashburn VA 22:01 21:58 7:05
2 56 Il June Lee 30 Vienna VA 23:16 23:10 7:28
3 76 Kevin Powell 34 Sterling VA 23:24 23:16 7:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 – 49
1 140 Anita Freres 43 Reston VA 19:56 19:56 6:25
2 116 Michelle Jakab 43 Sterling VA 26:09 25:59 8:22
3 25 Vicki Lewis 48 Woodbridge VA 26:53 26:48 8:38
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 – 49
1 123 Gary Grilliot 44 Reston VA 17:25 17:25 5:37
2 95 Robert Sichau 44 Alexandria VA 19:46 19:44 6:22
3 120 Rob Schlegel 41 Clifton VA 20:20 20:19 6:33
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 – 59
1 178 Leslie Kash 52 Round Hill VA 26:51 26:47 8:38
2 67 Karen Leh 51 Sterling VA 29:03 28:49 9:17
3 68 Cheryl Beebe 51 Sterling VA 32:23 32:21 10:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 – 59
1 29 Richard Adams Jr 57 Herndon VA 19:18 19:18 6:13
2 84 Myron Kremer 51 Winchester VA 20:51 20:50 6:43
3 10 James Moreland 56 Gaithersburg MD 21:04 21:04 6:47
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 – 69
1 51 Jean Stewart 65 Washington DC 40:44 40:32 13:03
2 73 Toni Miller 60 Leesburg VA 52:41 52:22 16:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 – 99
1 113 Maynard Weyers 72 Alexandria VA 24:45 24:44 7:58
2 144 Terry McCarthy 73 Leesburg VA 28:59 28:55 9:19
3 119 Jim Hufford 74 Reston VA 30:24 30:18 9:45
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 99
1 37 John Bratton 44 M Arlington VA 22:59 22:57 7:23
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME – NET PACE 1 – 99
1 66 Leila Lucas 46 F Ashburn VA 28:02 27:59 9:01
Wearing his Potomac River Running shirt, David Miller of Leesburg, VA flies home with a Ranked Runner time of 16:25 for fourth overall.
By James Moreland
Fairfax, VA
April 30, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Ryan Deak makes it look easy, racing home in 34:07.
The wind was blowing so strong that the balloon arch needed two handlers. The day was sunny but cool as the quixotic season bounced from hot to cold. Perhaps the first things runners noticed for this first time race is the great signage. From all sides there were signs and marshals leading the runners to the free parking, registration, and the starting lines for the 10K at 8:30 a.m. and the 3K at 9:00 a.m.
In the square, surrounded by spring flowers, the event was well organized. Centered by the stage and the energizing music, runners took note that there was a fully stocked chow line for after the race. Both races had the same finish line but the starting lines were not in sight of each other. The finish line was on the east side of the square on West Street. The 10K started on the south side, still on West Street.
There were no superstars here today so the crowd moved slowly up to the lead ChronoTrack mat, perhaps not wanting to assume a lead position. At the start runners were treated to a hundred meters of pure downhill before circling back around and up to Main Street. The little uphill separated the wheat from the chaff even before runners enjoyed the long downhill in the opening mile.
There were hundreds of cones and scores of marshals keeping everyone on course. One runner noted after the race that with so many turns the course may have run a little long. Certified courses are measured on the tangent and the cones were placed in the middle of the roads on the turns causing racers to make a 90 degree turn each time. There were no killer hills and quite a few medium long down hills but lots of turning and up hills can take a bite out of a runner’s pace.
Ryan Deak, 25, of Burke, VA quietly powered away from the field. It was all over long before the first of dozens of little hills and turns broke up the pace from the runners. He was one of seven runners with a Ranked Runner time in the 10K. Even though his bib number was 911, he did not need any help to cruise to an almost three minute victory in 34:07. Ramsey Wilson had a solid 36:57 for second overall, followed by Blake Sims with 37:55.
Before the race it was not just the volunteers who thought the breeze was making it cold. Elite athelete Anita Freres, 46, of Reston, VA was hugging herself to stay warm and claimed she was going to take it easy. Kayley Byrne, 23, of Oak Hill, VA (photo) blew away from the field to win soundly in 40:56, fifth overall. Freres started back further but powered her way forward in the first half of the race to put herself in position to take second from Cathy Ross, 39, of Burke, VA 43:45 to 43:19.
Midway through the course as runners started down a long hill, they were greeted by a massive display of gorgeous, multi-colored azaleas that took up most of a corner lot front yard.
The marshals were very good at warning runners of impending turns and hills. It was great to hear at 5.5 miles that the last hill was done. The course had finished its circumnavigation and the final quarter mile was even downhill. The sun was a lot brighter and most of the runners were no longer complaining that it was cold.
For nearly all the racers the final stretch was accompanied by returning 3K runners.
Crossing the finish line past the Capital Running Company RV, runners needed only to make a quick U-turn and soon there were enjoying hot chili with cheese (vegetarian or Cincinnati). There were bagels and cream cheese as well as fresh fruit and plenty of bottled water and Gatorade.
The awards ceremony went smoothly with top three overall getting very nice prizes such as $150 dinner certificates. The age groups went two deep with restaurants, grocery stores, Pacers Running, and movie coupons.
Fairfax CASA is a public charity that recruits and trains citizen volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are under the court’s protection in Fairfax County. Nicknamed “the eyes and ears of the judge,” CASA volunteers help ensure that these vulnerable children are placed in safe, permanent, and loving homes as quickly as possible.
The first year event really knows how to run a race. There were nearly five hundred finishers in the 10K and nearly 300 finishers in the 3K run/walk.
10K Awards
MALE OVERALL
1 911 Ryan Deak 25 Burke VA 34:07
2 796 Ramsey Wilson 39 Falls Church VA 36:57
3 564 Blake Simms 32 Fort Belvoir VA 37:55
FEMALE OVERALL
1 419 Kayley Byrne 23 Oak Hill VA 40:56
2 919 Anita Freres 46 Reston VA 43:15
3 550 Cathy Ross 39 Burke VA 43:19
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 12
1 666 Sarah Proctor 12 Chantilly VA 1:06:18 1:06:18
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 17
1 132 Cameron Rhodes 16 Fairfax VA 47:23 47:23
2 823 Conner Pleasants 15 Fairfax VA 49:03 49:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 13 - 17
1 801 Bridget Snydstrup 14 Fairfax Station VA 59:37 59:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 18 - 24
1 173 Brian Skram 24 Arlington VA 45:34 45:34
2 646 Andrew Borden 24 Alexandria VA 48:40 48:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 18 - 24
1 458 Elizabeth Thrall 24 Annandale VA 50:08 50:08
2 782 Jennifer Purdum 24 Vienna VA 50:37 50:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 34
1 587 Leyi Lin 31 Chevy Chase MD 40:22 40:22
2 252 Kristopher MacK 34 Fairfax VA 41:12 41:12
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 34
1 388 Jennifer Procopio 29 Alexandria VA 46:14 46:14
2 149 Mamie Kingsley 25 Arlington VA 46:36 46:36
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 44
1 909 Erik Heyer 39 Washington DC 43:07 43:07
2 345 Jonathan Parks 38 Manassas VA 43:24 43:24
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 44
1 189 Judy Doldorf 38 Manassas VA 46:16 46:16
2 547 Brooke Alsamman 44 Fairfax VA 46:59 46:59
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 54
1 620 Rhys Williams 49 Reston VA 44:07 44:07
2 912 Bill Stahr 50 The Plains VA 45:57 45:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 54
1 328 Lorraine Breedon 49 Washington DC 51:10 51:10
2 487 Bonnie Berkowitz 45 Vienna VA 55:48 55:48
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 64
1 691 Steve Sakry 58 Stafford VA 43:41 43:41
2 429 Michael Wesbecher 63 Oakton VA 44:43 44:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 64
1 88 Robin Kirby 56 Arlington VA 1:02:36 1:02:36
2 16 Meredith Dumm 59 Fairfax VA 1:02:50 1:02:50
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 99
1 455 Jack Tozier 68 Oakton VA 53:09 53:09
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 99
1 802 Maryellen Burke 73 Fairfax Station VA 1:01:35 1:01:35
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 51:42 47 Robert Dolecki 39 M Sterling VA 52:12 22:12
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 50:37 782 Jennifer Purdum 24 F Vienna VA 50:55 20:55
Rehau Rotary Resolution 10K Adventure Race
Mild Weather for Tenth Anniversary
By James Moreland
Janaury 1, 2007
Leesburg, VA
For the Washington Running Report
In the photo below, the lead pack crosses the first ditch down the opening mile.
The Rotary Resolution 10K has been a challenging race from the start. The course is more cross-country than road. After charging down the grass covered field for the first quarter mile, runners get a taste of blacktop for a couple hundred meters. Then “the road is long with many a winding turn.” And by road we mean dirt as in “country roads take me home.” Mile two and three go through a farm where “life on a farm is kinda laid back.”
If you were a volunteer course marshal, the morning was brisk but just barely damp from the pleasantly unrequited promise of rain for the weekend. As a runner, missing the water at the first two ditches on the opening hill just meant that you were not muddy until the next mile. Most of the experienced runners were in shorts and by the last mile were hoping for rain to cool them off.
There was “no wind, no rain, or winter storm” to slow the runners this year. Times could have been very fast. With so many races in the area, the field of elite runners was diluted. Still, there were nearly five hundred finishers in the 10K and nearly two hundred more in the preceding 4K. The last two miles of the race are a little faster than most of the course with a long downhill and paved roads until that last quarter back up to the finish. Final quarters take care of themselves.
This year the favorite was Mark Stickley (44) of Winchester, VA. He had run in 2005 against a strong field, finishing fourth, second master in 34:50. This year he lingered back of the lead pack for the first half mile and then eased away from the field. While he had the third slowest winning time in the first ten years of the race, his 35:01 was near the 40-44 record set when Tim Schuler topped him in 34:33 to 34:50 in 2005. Next year he can gun for Chuck Moeser’s 45-49 record 34:44. In photo left, Andres Wright (40) of Frederick, MD used his newly minted masters status to cement a solid 35:25 second place award.
The battle for third was between two teens. Tim Maline (18) of Herndon, VA sprinted up the final hill for an excellent 36:08. Two years younger, Andrew Budiansky of Leesburg, VA was not far behind in 36:50. Awards were to the top three runners and the top two in five year age groups. Christian Falmagne (45) of Bethesda, MD was fifth as the last sub 6:00 pace finisher in 37:11.
Bruce Halpin (50) of Ashburn, VA ran a solid 40:49 for the grandmaster title just beating Michael Fitzgerald of Hagerstown, MD by five seconds. Bob Chase (60) of Pimmit, VA was tops in 46:43 surprising Lou Shapiro (65) of Silver Spring, MD in 47:02. Shapiro gave John Elliot some incentive with his second fastest course time for the 65-69 division. Elliott had set the record in 44:17 in 2005. Richard Williams (71) of Alexandria, VA (54:36) broke George Waxter’s best time to earn the second fastest time. Jerry Lewis, who often Duels with Williams set the record in 2005 with 53:59.
For the women, Jen Oblas of Leesburg, VA had finished second last year on the course that grew well past 10K in distance. This year she looked relaxed running ahead of the entire field. Her time was the slowest winning time so far but she did reset the Leesburg resident record with her 43:40. Anita Freres (41) of Reston, VA was the top master coming in second in 44:11 just out of reach of Oblas. Christine Goodrum of Leesburg (in photo above), VA was next in 45:10 holding off a late rally from Mariana Pargana of Washington, DC in 45:23. The rest of the top ten were very close as well with three places decided by just six seconds.
Tenth place Karen Young of Boyds, MD is getting an early start on the 10K. In 2005 she ran forty of them. Last year she only ran 38 10Ks in her 113 races for the year. Linda Sheimo (50) of Fairfax, VA ran a solid 51:10 for the grandmaster win. That is a ranked times and they do not come easy on this scenic course.
There were many, many young runners in the 4K. In the 10K the youngest runner for the males was Spencer Barrett (9) and for the females Amanda Eller (12) both of Leesburg VA. The record for the boys is still seven by Michael Castor. In 2000 phenom Aurora Scott of Portsmouth, VA, then just nine, was fifth overall in 46:02. Now sixteen she has run 16:37 for the fastest female 5K in the region in 2006.
After the race, runners enjoyed abundant quantities of refreshment inside the recreation Center.
Men’s Awards
Place Num Name Ag City Finis
===== ===== ======================= == ================== =====
1 4 Mark Stickley 44 Winchester VA 35:01
2 465 Andres Wright 40 Frederick MD 35:25
3 534 Tim Maline 18 Herndon VA 36:08
MALE AGE GROUP: 01 – 19
1 282 Andrew Budiansky 16 Leesburg VA 36:49
2 377 Patrick Hayes 17 Ashburn VA 39:17
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 – 24
1 349 Tim Snyder 20 Frederick MD 38:12
2 535 Matt Maline 23 Herndon VA 42:20
MALE AGE GROUP: 25 – 29
1 457 Stephen Schmidt 28 Leesburg VA 43:25
2 27 Adam Borbidge 28 South Riding VA 44:46
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 – 34
1 406 Andy Mason 34 Hagerstown MD 38:06
2 374 Bradley Wedemeyer 30 Ashburn VA 42:17
MALE AGE GROUP: 35 – 39
1 340 William Sutherlin 37 Sterling VA 40:47
2 334 Kevin Knight 38 Leesburg VA 41:13
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 – 44
1 522 Bryan Mikesh 42 Fairfax VA 40:43
2 504 Alan Thatcher 43 Manassas VA 41:18
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 – 49
1 58 Christian Falmagne 45 Bethesda MD 37:10
2 232 William Clem 47 Bethesda MD 42:54
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 – 54
1 352 Bruce Halpin 50 Ashburn VA 40:47
2 407 Michael Fitzgerald 51 Hagerstown MD 40:51
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 – 59
1 296 Timothy Morgan 56 Damascus MD 42:10
2 46 Allen Vaughan 56 Stafford VA 45:41
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 – 64
1 506 Bob Chase 61 Pimmit VA 46:39
2 357 James Hozik 61 Great Falls VA 49:30
MALE AGE GROUP: 65 – 69
1 81 Lou Shapiro 65 Silver Spring MD 46:58
2 180 Douglas Morris 68 Delaplane VA 53:00
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 – 99
1 24 Richard Williams 71 Alexandria VA 54:34
2 1302 Alan Rider 70 Reston VA 58:48
MALE LEESBURG RESIDENT
1 282 Andrew Budiansky 16 Leesburg VA 36:49
MALE ROTARIAN RESIDENT
1 273 Matt Elliott 33 Leesburg VA 48:54
Women’s Awards
Place Num Name Ag City Finis
===== ===== ======================= == ================== =====
1 269 Jen Oblas 28 Leesburg VA 43:40
2 483 Anita Freres 41 Reston VA 44:11
3 553 Christine Goodrum 34 Leesburg VA 45:10
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 01 – 19
1 301 Kate Spiering 17 Leesburg VA 51:43
2 214 Breann Whiat 16 Washington DC 54:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 – 24
1 585 Katy Dannenberg 22 Sterling VA 46:57
2 455 Ashley Carlson 24 Weslaco TX 51:19
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 – 29
1 233 Mariana Pargana 28 Washington DC 45:22
2 234 Andrea Vasquez 29 Washington DC 46:32
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 – 34
1 378 Carla Tharrington 31 Haymarket VA 51:38
2 218 Tatiana Boskovich 30 Burke VA 54:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 – 39
1 196 Tamara Utne 39 Bristow VA 46:59
2 184 Karen Young 38 Boyds MD 48:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 – 44
1 494 Claude Romeyer Dherbey 44 Round Hill VA 48:16
2 294 Annie McCoy 40 Hamilton VA 49:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 – 49
1 198 Carole Roeder 49 Ashburn VA 49:14
2 490 Kathleen Armstrong 45 Ashburn VA 52:21
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 – 54
1 443 Linda Sheimo 50 Fairfax VA 51:06
2 216 Margaret Davis 54 Vienna VA 52:39
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 – 59
1 23 Jane Poole 59 Washington DC 53:39
2 255 Julie Pastor 56 Leesburg VA 58:33
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 – 64
1 176 Catherine Van Brocklin 60 Gaithersburg MD 59:34
2 1309 Punkin Lee 60 Middleburg VA 64:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65 – 69
1 207 Ecris Williams 68 Reston VA 65:53
2 42 Jamie Wollard 68 N Bethesda MD 76:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 – 99
FEMALE LEESBURG RESIDENT
1 269 Jen Oblas 28 Leesburg VA 43:40
