By James Moreland
Washington, DC
June 2, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
The storms were thunderous the night before but the dawn brought a perfect morning. Ten of thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators came out for the serious business of raising money for the Cure. More than $11 million dollars was a proudly ambitious amount that was achieved. Much of the success of the huge event comes from the powerfully optimistic view of the people involved.
With work being done on the mall, the event began in a new spot with the running portion heading north on 15th street in the shadow of the Washington Monument and turning west onto Constitution. A little further along the way the walkers, who made up 80% of the field, waited for their turn onto the course that circled back around before heading south to Independence and back down to the regular finish line at 5th Street.
The event would continue to have a flood of participants flowing down the boulevard for hours after the start. The mood was joyous and hopeful with the color pink standing out as the color of survivors. There were 171 survivors listed among the 5K runners led by Judy Pickett, 48, of Cameron Park, CA and Kathleen Hammett, 40, of Hollywood, MD. Both of their times are elite times for their age group, finishing ninth and tenth overall. In the walk there were hundreds more survivors.
Women have been populating road racing at a greater and greater pace. In the last couple of years they have passed men in total numbers. It was little surprise that today’s event drew women at a two to one rate among the nearly five thousand finishers in the running portion.
There was a little confusion on the correct path from Constitution to Independence. At the finish line Martha Nelson improved by near a minute from last year’s seventh place to win it all in 17:59. Meghan Ridgley was again second but she was a minute slower than last year. Third place Mijiko Phelps was the top master in 19:43. Not far behind her in fifth place was the grandmaster favorite Dee Loughran, 53, in an excellent 19:55. She had the top age graded time with a superb 88.7%. Nelson and Pickett also exceeded the national standard of 80% for the women.
The top two men exceeded the national standard as well. Last year’s winner Wilson Komen improved on his race time to 15:28 but had to settle for the runner-up spot. Thomas Adam of Charlottesville, VA (left) looked calm strolling around the starting mats before the race. But when the race started he bolted away from everyone but Komen. His fine 15:16 was easily enough to be crowned champion.
By James Moreland
Sterling, VA
May 26, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
Fun run start .
For the last nine years this special race that starts underneath the ladders of two fire trucks in Sterling, has acted like the official start of the summer season. Raced on Memorial Day weekend the region usually blasts out a ninety degree day to test the runners. The course is a two loop jaunt around the Community Center. After cresting the first long hill at the end of the second mile runners get to run under an uncapped fire hydrant. A quick look at the times will tell you that the first real scorcher of 2012 took its toll on the nearly 500 10K finishers.
Only one event record was broken and that was Christy Dannenberg’s 19 & younger record of 42:22 set in 2004. Race winner Melissa Saunders, 19, took the crown in a very nice 41:21. The elite division for the Runner Rankings is 41:15. Only two others years, both extra hot, had a winner slower than forty minutes.
Katie Clarke, 19, got a late start finishing in 42:58 but her net time of 42:25 was near the former event record. Only one women in the top ten finishers returned from last year, sixth place Mandana Mortazavi, 48 in 45:16. Fourth place Kim Isler was the masters champion in 44:23.
In the men’s race, Ray Pugsley, 43, was the consensus favorite to win it all. Pugsley cruised home in 34:37 for his third win in five tries. He had set the 35-39 record winning in 2006 with 33:29. The next year he was second to Jorge Pardo, 38, who took his record with 33:21. In 2008 he came to for revenge besting Pardo 33:21 with an excellent 33:02 but was again second as Philippe Rolly, 35, won it all in 32:49. All three broke the previous record. The next year Pugsley returned as a master to win it all in 33:02, again. Only one runner older than Pugsley has won the race. That was Linda Foley, 46, back in 2008.
In 2007, runner-up Max Werner, 23 , had the second fastest teen time in 35:41. Today he topped his best Cascades 10K with 35:39. The teen record was set by C.W. Moran with 32:34. The following year he joined Philippe Rolly in a blistering charge down the final hill finishing in an identical time of 30:40. Rolly got the victory by an eyelash, while Moran settled for the 20-24 record. Last year Ethan Pacifico (left) was fourth overall in a solid 37:53. This year he was fifth, improving to 36:57. He still has three more years to try for Werner’s time.
For the older runners, Roland Rust, 60, continues his top ranked spring season with an excellent 40:24 for the second best age graded time, after Pugsley, in tthe event. It makes you realize how good Patrick Griffith was. Griffith is one of three runners, Moran and Rolly, with two age group records. He had a fabulous 38:46 back in 2005 at age sixty.
Four runners from the 50 Plus Club with a combined 161 races run so far this year came out to race. Jim Noone, 67, took another title with a solid 44:18. Bob Gurtler, 77, who normally prefers the 5K with 28 already this year, ran his fifth 10K of the year in 1:06:53. Karen Young, 43, and Bill Stahr, 51, have a combined 35 races each in the 5K and 10K. Stahr, who won his age group in 44:12, ran a record 78 10K races in 2009. Young, who just missed running fifty or more for the third time with 49 in 2001, leads Stahr this year so far 19 to 17.
Awards Listing (No Duplicate Prizes)
OVERALL MALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 3 Ray Pugsley 43 Potomac Falls VA 34:37
2 506 Max Werner 23 Potomac Falls VA 35:39
3 346 Douglas Haines 27 Centreville VA 36:28
OVERALL FEMALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Lname Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 422 Melissa Saunders 19 Potomac Falls VA 41:21
2 44 Katie Clarke 19 Sterling VA 42:58
3 251 Mary Beth Chosak 33 Arlington VA 43:21
MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 336 Ethan Pacifico 16 Potomac Falls VA 36:57
2 118 Patrick Wilson 19 Sterling VA 38:33
3 508 Zawad Chowdhury 18 Potomac Falls VA 38:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 499 Samantha Phillips 19 Potomac Falls VA 48:13
2 459 Kayla Grimmett 18 Sterling VA 48:23
3 283 Barbara Rion 19 Sterling VA 49:00
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 505 Kyle Kinnally 24 Ashburn VA 36:52
2 450 Matt Weber 21 Sterling VA 37:46
3 493 Tim French 20 Sterling VA 44:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 24 (NET TIME)
1 129 Emily O'Connor 22 Sterling VA 47:15
2 211 Erica Raggio 21 Sterling VA 50:41
3 307 Lauren Cummings 23 Olympia WA 53:05
MALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 119 Sean Wilson 25 Sterling VA 37:39
2 22 Mike Tosto 28 Sterling VA 41:14
3 306 William Fastenau 25 Olympia WA 43:11
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 25 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 453 Kristina Keller 29 Cleveland OH 45:11
2 514 Amanda Gould 29 Centreville VA 46:40
3 213 Heather Hanks 29 Clifton VA 48:08
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 87 Dennis Haeberle 31 Reston VA 42:10
2 18 Caldwell Clarke 33 Leesburg VA 42:19
3 370 Andy Gingrich 32 Centreville VA 42:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 34 (NET TIME)
1 105 Alison Slade 31 Odenton MD 46:00
2 491 Laura Portillo 30 Potomac Falls VA 46:37
3 466 Melanie Bell 30 Potomac Falls VA 49:37
MALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 327 Robert Osterried 39 Sterling VA 40:28
2 181 Robert Antonellis 36 Sterling VA 42:37
3 32 Thomas Luke 36 Potomac Falls VA 45:21
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 35 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 27 Keisha Voigt 39 Sterling VA 47:17
2 80 Kristy Persons 36 Potomac Falls VA 47:19
3 365 Laura Sibley 39 Potomac Falls VA 49:41
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 270 Alan Sherman 40 Silver Spring MD 37:06
2 431 Rob Meadows 40 Lansdowne VA 39:50
3 97 Bin Mu 43 Reston VA 40:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44 (NET TIME)
1 295 Kim Isler 44 Oakton VA 44:20
2 529 Karen Young 43 Boyds MD 48:15
3 98 Jie Zheng 41 Reston VA 48:58
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 358 Craig Hymes 49 Reston VA 39:22
2 538 Ed Milenski 45 Potomac Falls VA 39:36
3 509 Mark Fanelli 48 Reston VA 41:46
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 533 Mandana Mortazavi 48 Leesburg VA 45:12
2 428 Annie Downer 48 Herndon VA 50:26
3 193 Cj Schwartzrock 45 Sterling VA 51:35
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 532 Bill Stahr 51 The Plains VA 44:10
2 168 Gregory Gould 51 Sterling VA 45:14
3 354 Alan Riggs 54 Lovettsville VA 50:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54 (NET TIME)
1 382 Pamela Thomas 52 Sterling VA 53:15
2 169 Laurie Gould 51 Sterling VA 54:07
3 187 Suzanne Cooper 51 Sterling VA 55:50
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 163 Ken Krehbiel 58 Washington DC 46:12
2 345 Keith Hosman 57 Dale City VA 48:45
3 424 John Klemens 55 Potomac Falls VA 49:47
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 465 Kathie Brumbaugh 55 Herndon VA 1:03:09
2 218 Laura Carter 55 Sterling VA 1:11:55
3 225 Connie Boswell 55 Sterling VA 1:15:59
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 207 Roland Rust 60 Bethesda MD 40:23
2 258 Bill Koetter 63 Ashburn VA 55:30
3 482 Halle Overhamm 61 Germany 1:03:06
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64 (NET TIME)
1 313 Jaine Summers 61 Annandale VA 1:07:42
MALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 290 Jim Noone 67 Fairfax VA 44:15
2 390 Patrick Brown 67 Reston VA 55:22
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 387 Pat Welch 67 Vienna VA 1:00:58
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
1 411 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 53:58
2 507 Ken Quincy 74 Vienna VA 1:00:14
3 474 Bruce Wayne 75 Potomac Falls VA 1:05:16
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 186 Son Huynh 33 M South Riding VA 48:38
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 211 Erica Raggio 21 F Sterling VA 50:41
By James Moreland
December 31, 2011
Ashburn, VA
For the Washington Running Report
The Hogettes helped out in the fun run. They also noted that a race about hope would fit in nicely with the Washington Redskins.
This the third iteration of the Ringing in Hope races that began last New Year’s Eve. It was followed by an early summer rendition started just down the road. After having a 3K to accompany the main event 10K last year, the races moved to a more logical 5K-10K format.
This year the two races started together with the 5K racing one loop in reverse of last year and finding new ground. For the 10K which was run as an out and back prior, the course offered two loops with slight adjustment. In the final quarter mile of the 5K the 10K split off to circumnavigate the shopping center and surrounding neighborhood, while the 5K raced around the final two corners of the plaza to cross the ChronoTrack mats.
This made things easier than having 10K runners cross the mats twice. And as there were nearly 2,000 runners with the 1K fun run included, it was easier to score. Many of the participants chose to walk the 5K. Often with two distances runners decide to change their race afterwards and it does make scoring a little harder to do.
The really fast runners easily lapped the walkers and many of the 5K runners. A curious phenomenon of racing is that often slower runners make a brilliant burst of speed at the very end leaving one to wonder why it took them so long to finish. On the other hand the truly gifted artisans will ease up when they have verily achieved their victory.
Joshua Hardin, 20, of Sterling, VA started about seven seconds late but bolted past the leaders early. He coasted in the file half mile to win easily in 33:32. He trotted across the line in what one scorer called a “ten minute pace” and at first was thought to be a mid pack 5K finisher. He may have needed to slow to get past the multitude of 5K finishers as he was alone among the 10K runners. Doubters need only see his 32:23 overall win at the Leesburg 10K last August ahead of Seife Geletu who earned 23rd place in the Elite division of the Fall Runner Rankings. Aaron Church set the standard last year in 32:14 as well as winning the summer version in 33:02.
Jonathan Phillips, 19, was the runner-up in 34:49 and then three submasters battled for the third spot. Brian Szabos, 38, took command in the end with a pure 6:00 pace and 37:18 finish.
For the women, the standard was a very solid 30:24 in the summer by Sarah Bard and Anna Bernal had been tops a full year ago in 39:45. Today Melissa Saunders, 19, ran away from three ladies more than twice her age. Her nifty 41:00 even had her as the fifteenth 10K finisher of the day. Lisa Chilcote (left) has been a busy bee racing all around the region this year but usually just over the official border. In the fall she settled a bright colored flower at the Veterans Day 10K in 40:04 to earn the fifth masters spot in the rankings. It also made her the favorite today but not by much. Cathy Ross, 41, had run a very solid Richmond Half Marathon. Mandana Mortazavi, 48, had been used to ruling the Loudoun County races. These three did not begin to sort out until the second half of the race. Chilcote was runner-up in 41:39 on a reasonably flat course with a few deceptively tough hills. Ross was just a little way behind in 42:24 with Mortazavi cruising in with 43:05.
Ryan Hughes, 15, (left) battled three other runners for the 5K honors. His 17:08 is the second fastest time behind Axel Tarnvik, 18, who ran a 16:41 in the summer. Indeed the next 8 runners all bested the second fastest time of the summer. Last winter in the 3K only one runner beat 49-year-old Ted Poulos and his 10:55 and that was Tarnvik who ran 10:27.
Poulos, now 50, was sixth overall in 19:03 easily the top master as he enters his full first month as a grand master. For the year Poulos has run 170 races, just his tenth best yearly total. During one five- year stretch in the last decade he ran 1235 of his nearly 5000 career races. It has been many years since he has not had fifty overall wins in a year. This year his total is 64.
Just has in the summer the top three women included a record, with Amy Passeuer, 22, running 20:22 to reset the standard set by Karen Haddon in the summer, a teen with Jillian Stoddard, also faster than the old standard in 20:34, and a masters finisher. Cheryl Young, 42, just nipped Kathy Hoenig’s summer crown of 21:20 with a crown making 21:18.
For the seasoned runners, Alan Rider, 75, jovially promised a victory in the 10K. Then he had to run for his life to head off James Chapman for the title 57:14 to 57:38. Margaret Collie, 67 was the oldest female finisher, winning her division.
In the 5K Maynard Weyers, 75, (right) generally has his way and dominated in 27:45. Most likely Rider was a few strides behind him when they split directions at the 5K finish.
For the ladies, Lee Glassco, 80, was the beneficiary of expanded age groups of 80 & older for another victory. If you build the division, they will come. Barbara Potzick, 71, was lured out of racing retirement to give it a go. This was only her second event in five years. She predicted about forty minutes, and even running “easily to avoid injury” she finished in a marvelous 36:27. Now she is thinking about another race to earn a coveted spot in the Washington Running Report Winter Runner Rankings, which end the day before the 2012 St.Patrick’s Race in March.
Awards Listing for the 10K (No Duplicate Prizes) updated 1/6/12
MALE OVERALL
1 1835 Joshua Hardin 20 Potomac Falls VA 33:32 X
2 961 Jonathan Phillips 19 Oak Hill VA 34:49 X
3 1800 Brian Szabos 38 South Riding VA 37:18 X
FEMALE OVERALL
1 412 Melissa Saunders 19 Potomac Falls VA 41:00 X
2 829 Lisa Chilcote 41 N Bethesda MD 41:39 X
3 303 Cathy Ross 40 Burke VA 42:24 X
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 912 Nathan Blevins 10 Manassas Park VA X 40:27
2 1353 Marco Lim 15 Centreville VA X 40:38
3 1390 Steven Hurwitt 19 Ashburn VA X 41:49
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 1957 Rachel Laveson 16 Annandale VA X 48:34
2 247 Maddie Siegel 19 Aldie VA X 49:36
3 1327 Grace Howard 12 Leesburg VA X 51:16
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 1124 Auguste Boti Bigore 28 Silver Spring MD X 39:04
2 525 Alan Mendoza 29 Ashburn VA X 39:53
3 2919 Miguel Perez 29 Silver Spring MD X 40:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 269 Amy Franklin 26 Leesburg VA X 43:33
2 1861 Miranda Forte 26 Gaithersburg MD X 44:32
3 1462 Dawn Gilbert 29 Manassas VA X 45:33
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 1923 Jeffrey Hiott 38 Washington DC X 37:26
2 622 David Pattie 37 Ashburn VA X 39:02
3 191 Anthony Deluise 36 Ashburn VA X 40:03
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 179 Danielle Newcome 34 Round Hill VA X 43:59
2 403 Alison Gittelman 39 South Riding VA X 44:24
3 1323 Carrie Leestma 32 Ashburn VA X 44:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 1850 Craig Hymes 49 Reston VA X 38:09
2 286 Lawrence Kusko 42 Stephens City VA X 40:28
3 393 Chris Godesky 40 Arlington VA X 40:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 1925 Mandana Mortazavi 48 Leesburg VA X 43:05
2 2906 Christie Yang 40 Falls Church VA X 44:25
3 340 Leslie Knibb 48 Washington DC X 45:00
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 616 Jeff Bowers 50 Ashburn VA X 41:49
2 167 Timothy Scott 56 Sterling VA X 42:55
3 1948 Bill Stahr 51 The Plains VA X 43:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 1774 Carole Jones 54 Ashburn VA X 45:23
2 676 Elizabeth Baumgarten 55 Stone Ridge VA X 46:54
3 547 Rosalind Poe 54 Leesburg VA X 47:00
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 2950 James Hozik 66 Great Falls VA X 49:56
2 1258 Bill Koetter 63 Ashburn VA X 54:29
3 512 Mike Thorson 69 Reno NV X 55:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 1089 Margaret Collie 67 Vienna VA X 53:46
2 599 Janice Cooper 65 Annandale VA X 1:14:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 816 Alan Rider 75 Reston VA X 57:14
2 198 James Chapman 70 Lovettsville VA X 57:38
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 39:53 525 Alan Mendoza 29 M Ashburn VA 39:53
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 56:39 642 Noreen Holcomb 49 F Brambleton VA 56:39
Awards Listing for the 5K (No Duplicate Prizes)
MALE OVERALL
1 1083 Ryan Hughes 15 Ashburn VA 17:08 5
2 1842 Thomas Johnson 26 Arlington VA 17:16 5
3 1798 Gregory Steinberger 35 South Riding VA 17:22 5
FEMALE OVERALL
1 1276 Amy Passauer 22 Ashburn VA 20:22 5
2 655 Jillian Stoddard 18 Purcellville VA 20:34 5
3 1966 Cheryl Young 42 Reston VA 21:18 5
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 1434 Chris Schopper 16 Broadlands VA 5 18:46
2 1373 Matthew Celsa 16 Sterling VA 5 19:04
3 1067 Adam Fischel 17 Broadlands VA 5 19:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 1 - 19
1 1057 Ayan Adu 13 Brambleton VA 5 23:40
2 1367 Alyssa Coon 13 Ashburn VA 5 23:59
3 1951 Livia Sabloff 9 Leesburg VA 5 24:40
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 281 David Pittman 27 Washington DC 5 19:07
2 1904 Danny Haley 24 Grasonville MD 5 21:43
3 667 Evan Stoddard 22 Purcellville VA 5 22:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 29
1 1989 Brittan Holiday 22 Chandler AX 5 21:20
2 1410 Elisabeth Flores 20 Sterling VA 5 22:32
3 1123 Krystine Rivera 25 Ashburn VA 5 22:38
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 405 Adam Borbidge 33 South Riding VA 5 17:41
2 302 Glen Case 36 Ashburn VA 5 19:38
3 1929 Ben Jones 38 Ashburn VA 5 20:24
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 39
1 897 Nicole Knutson 32 Alexandria VA 5 21:21
2 1837 Shannon Nieves 30 Reston VA 5 23:12
3 1971 Elizabeth Clor 33 Chantilly VA 5 23:18
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 1873 David Sousa 40 Fairfax VA 5 20:28
2 1214 Eric Whitaker 43 Fairfax VA 5 21:12
3 1817 Jason Warde 40 Vienna VA 5 22:14
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 49
1 414 Kelly Saunders 42 Potomac Falls VA 5 24:49
2 1181 Constance Pullella 43 Leesburg VA 5 24:57
3 1256 Beth Alwin 48 Leesburg VA 5 25:46
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 1934 Ted Poulos 50 McLean VA 5 19:03
2 862 Tom Nealley 52 Reston VA 5 21:16
3 1253 Gary Dunlap 50 Leesburg VA 5 22:20
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 59
1 1987 Felice Berkowitz 52 Fairfax VA 5 24:22
2 2973 Shawn Miller 55 Ashburn VA 5 24:40
3 539 Cheryl Collins 53 Gainesville VA 5 26:28
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 765 Robert Driscoll 65 Chantilly VA 5 25:09
2 1131 Randy Latimer 61 Vienna VA 5 29:59
3 1142 Paul Behrs 67 Sterling VA 5 30:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 69
1 1224 Sherry Fitzsimmons 62 Ashburn VA 5 33:28
2 939 Kerry H Rader 62 Chantilly VA 5 41:22
3 646 Chris Ferrario 61 Fairfax Station VA 5 48:24
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 1292 Maynard Weyers 75 Alexandria VA 5 27:45
2 1098 Thomas Grisard 70 Reston VA 5 38:43
3 1876 Norm Wingard 75 Loveland CO 5 40:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 79
1 896 Barbara Potzick 71 Potomac MD 5 36:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 80 - 99
1 773 Lee Glassco 80 McLean VA 5 53:31
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 22:38 320 Chase Strait 16 M South Riding VA 22:38
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 24:34 381 Christina Lee 20 F Sterling VA 24:34
By James Moreland
Washington, DC
November 5, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Racers charge the final steps of the course on the grass.
The new race begins as a way to announce to the world that there is much more room for women in the political arena. The race director gave us a rundown of the percentage of women in many of the state and national public offices. As with racing these days there are a greater number of women than men and the thinking is that more of them should be in key decision making positions.
The course started on the quadrangle at American University where the playing field is completely level. One runner noticing that said, “This course looks real flat with two loops around here.” A more experienced Washingtonian said, “I already jogged the course and campus is on the side of the hill. We have to run all the way down to the track.”
On the course there were signs all along the way listing the countries of the world as well as .5 kilometer markers for both loops. About five minutes into the race flat turned to downhill as runners barreled around the corner to the track. Naturally the track was flat. Though the weather was windless and sunny with a near perfect racing temperature, there was actually ice on the inside lane of the track.
Leaving the track meant an uphill climb. “The course has a lot of turns but it is gonna be fun, said race winner Henry Wigglesworth, 53, of Washington, DC. Of course winning is fun. There were many walkers also in the event and on the second loop the faster runners caught up with them. Still, there was plenty of room for all.
Of the 346 finishers nearly three quarters of them were women. The top woman, Sally Okine, 20, won easily in 21:24. The top master was fourth overall Traci Siegel and the top grandmaster was Blake Rushin. For the men, Wigglesworth was tops in all three spots.
At right, Dana Arvanites, 23, strides home.
The age group prizes were very nice but perhaps the coolest prize was the random prize from Panera promising weekly loaves of for a year. The prizes were only for the top runner in each division, though we listed second place below as well. Overall went three deep.
After the race there was hot coffee and tea as well as lots of fresh bagels and trays upon trays of pastries.
Nearly everyone has a camera today and Jamie Shenk was there taking photos of his wife Kate (174), seen below finishing with Patsy Ashmore (173).
FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 330 Sally Okine 20 Washington DC 21:24 21:02 6:47
2 550 Rachel Clattenburg 27 Washington DC 21:56 21:54 7:03
3 218 Katherine Sancken 24 Washington DC 23:00 22:55 7:23
MALE OVERALL
Place Num Name Ag City Gun T Net T Pace
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== ===== ===== =====
1 537 Henry Wigglesworth 53 Washington DC 17:53 17:53 5:46
2 335 Brian Beary 35 Washington DC 18:04 18:04 5:49
3 49 Eric Johnson 23 Washington DC 18:39 18:37 6:00
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 24
1 392 Stefanie Claus 24 Washington DC 23:14 23:05 7:26
2 48 Elise Polentes 18 Washington DC 23:44 23:39 7:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 24
1 551 Jay Cox-Chapman 24 Washington DC 19:19 19:18 6:13
2 309 Tommy Hunt 21 Washington DC 19:56 19:56 6:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 34
1 373 Fisola Fasehun 25 Washington DC 23:20 22:59 7:24
2 219 Caroline Sancken 26 Washington DC 23:08 23:02 7:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 34
1 541 Jason Carson 27 Bowie MD 18:39 18:39 6:01
2 245 Conor Shapiro 26 Washington DC 18:52 18:51 6:04
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 44
1 387 Traci Siegel 40 Washington DC 23:15 22:58 7:24
2 81 Bettina Myers 42 Washington DC 23:42 23:39 7:37
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 44
1 542 Rob Palmer 35 Silver Spring MD 19:22 19:21 6:14
2 24 Steven Kelts 39 Washington DC 20:03 20:01 6:27
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 54
1 279 Blake Rushin 50 Vienna VA 23:25 23:21 7:31
2 69 Madelyn Leeke 46 Washington DC 28:57 28:29 9:10
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 54
1 545 Jimmy Bisese 49 Washington DC 20:20 20:18 6:32
2 555 Allen Haywood 48 Washington DC 22:01 21:59 7:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 99
1 282 Laura Bellis 56 Reston VA 24:58 24:54 8:01
2 351 Wendy Lesko 61 Kensington MD 33:03 32:32 10:29
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 99
1 303 James Moreland 59 Gaithersburg MD 23:31 23:31 7:34
2 378 Mike Golash 68 Washington DC 25:04 25:01 8:04
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 296 Brian Tanenbaum 36 M Arlington VA 26:56 26:23 8:30
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 269 Sabrina Izzo 25 F Washington DC 26:18 26:15 8:27
By James Moreland
Gaithersburg, MD
February 9, 2010
For the Washington Running Report
Already we have had two historic snow falls this season and Tuesday we are due to get more snow added than we had all of last winter. When the roads are described as passable, that is like when races are described as scenic. Just where does all that extra snow get pushed? The new sidewalk is the street.
We were told that it was the fourth largest snowfall in the District because Reagan got 18 inches. We all know that was the lightest spot in the region by as much as two feet. The snow crews are doing an incredible job but no one can match Mother Nature.
So how does one go for a run? It is a given that most runners are a little crazy. Thus, it is no surprise that some have decided to hits the roads. Fortunately there are few cars on the roads but the chances of disaster increase ten fold, even with drivers that have two hands on the wheels. Examining roads near my home I found that even the major roads (Route 355) was half as wide and not down to the surface. You can leap out of the way of an out of control driver on a sunny day. Now you would have to bound over an eight foot high snow bank. So stay off the roads!
You know about “if a tree falls in the woods” but how about in the parking lot.
Forget the track or the trails in the park. The trail at Needwood in Rockville was six inches on hard packed ice with a layer of crunchy snow more than a week after December’s storm. Today it is much worse. On Christmas Day I ran along Great Seneca where the sidewalk should have been. It was a foot of snow with an ice topping. If I could have run just a little faster I might have only sunk in a tiny bit and skimmed along the top. I could not and I did not. I broke through the top like Santa through a chimney and had to work like hell to pull my leg free. Normally you would expect me to stumble and fall on my face, which I did a least a dozen times. At least there was no one there to watch. Forget the sidewalks, wherever they may be!
I tried going cross country and made it to the trash dumpster fifty meters away. Then I tried to go on the street past the fallen fir trees. Each step went all the way up to the “you not what” that does not respond well to the cold. It was like running in water except you never knew how much it would hold you so you were stumbling off balance. After less than 100 meters, I was totally out of breath and I tiptoed from dry spots the best I could to return to my castle, hoping to find that I still had power.
My Running Path!
Without a treadmill my running streak is coming to an end, so I was forced to make a large batch of Chocolate Chip cookies. At least I kept that streak going.
Not surprisingly even the most optimistic races have been canceled or postponed. Some are already cancelled for the upcoming weekend such as the popular George Washington Birthday 10K and the Annapolis Strider’s Valentine’s Day 5K. ThePVTC lost their Christmas Caper Holiday Series race to the first storm. The By George 10K/5K may be doomed as well. If you are not sure at all please check first you can access all of the races by first going to our Race Calendar. Some sites try to wait until the last moment before deciding. Another big race for the region is the long standing 49th AnnualWashington’s Birthday Marathon and Relay in Greenbelt, which is hoping to find another date. There is a new 5K race in Arlington scheduled for Valentine’s Day called Love the Run You’re With, is postponed till February 28, 2010.
Many people read about the etiquette of not taking a spot cleared by someone else. Legal or not on a city street, people are probably going to grab it. In my parking lot, everybody knows everybody and so far nobody has “stolen” a spot. That may change the longer it takes for this to be over. The snow is the worst so far but later the cold and the ice will be worse.
I ventured out late last night to rescue my brother from BWI Airport. That is near Elkridge where they got 38 inches. The main roads were about a lane and a half. They looked clear but you could feel from the traction that there was intermittent black ice. Also in lots of places there were three inch high strips of ice. It was like hitting a curb. Many drivers were going at least the speed limit; I was slower.
When I returned home, the downhill slant of the parking lot had cooled enough to stop the melting snow from dripping away and the “skating rink” was nearly impossible. At 2MPH I was still sliding. Fortunately there were protective snow banks. I could not see my spot until I was inches away because of the eight foot snow banks. Praise be, my chair was still in place and the space was still mine… if I could only make the turn into it.
I tried but the capricious ice that would not let me stop, now would not let me go. Lucky man that I am, three of my neighbors were out then (11:15 PM) and they provided the manpower to free me and get me back into to the spot I will soon again be buried in. I thanked them profusely. They reminded me that earlier last fall I had helped them jump start their car. I went back into the house feeling good about the world.
Below are the three layers: Saturday morning, Saturday night, and Tuesday morning. I fear Wednesday morning will again look like Saturday morning.
