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
Ashburn, VA
June 11, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
Virginia Pons moves past the starting line at the first loop.
The Potomac River Twilight 4 mile race has built a solid reputation as a family event. While providing some of most competitive races at this less than common distance, the well attended mile fun run and all the entertainment after the event keep the race high in recidivism. While the classic rock band Dolley Sodds was warming up, event director Ray Pugsley was scurrying around filling a kid’s pool with ice to cool off the many different kinds of liquid refreshment awaiting the returning road warriors. Everyone knows that in this region June is really summer no matter what the calendar says. Pugsley was smiling as he said, “We dodged a bullet.” Indeed, after two record setting days in the last week, this year’s temperature in the low 80s seemed almost kind.
Owning the fourth fastest time of 20:07 from his runner-up spot in 2009 made Aaron Church, 35, the favorite. Church (left takes the final strides) was coming off a top ranking in the winter in his division and he was feeling good. Still, nobody told the other racers that he would win. On the way back past the starting line at about 2K in the race Church was riding easily in the back of a pack of seven racers. They had cruised through the opening mile in 4:49, which would put them on pace to take on Steve Crane’s event record of 19:47 from 2008. The race announcer keep the finish line informed by radio as they pushed through the next mile still sub 5:00.
Though perhaps the kindest day of the first five years, the race was really heating up, in more ways than one. After the race was done Church noted that he did not have a real speed, [not] and he made his break about 2.5 miles into the event. He did not want to leave the race to a sprint at the end. As the pack broke up a couple of the racers called it quits and dropped. Kent Pecora was from North Carolina and an unknown, clinging to the pace. Hugh Toland had won three races in the spring including a 15:45 5K. Ryan Deak had two wins and a 15:44 5K. As the runners came in view for the final two hundred meters, it was clear that Church would prevail. Church’s only race in the spring was a third overall four mile race in 20:43. This time he improved his pace to take it all in an event age group record 20:25. Pecora was next in 20:38. Deak looked really tired for a man moving so fast and settled for third place cash at 20:46. Toland was fourth in 21:02.
Coming up form the south was Williamsburg’s John Piggott. Piggott, 46, (left) as always, is training for the half marathon where he seems to excel the best. He had run 14 miles in the morning but “no one was pushing” him. As it turned out, he ended up in no man’s land in the race with no one within sight of him on either side. He did not even feel the pressure to press at the end. Still, he slipped in past the former course record held by the formidable Ted Poulos (22:42 – 2007) with a fine 22:30. That is the second fastest master time behind Darrell General’s 21:28 set in 2007.
Elite grandmaster George Buckheit (below) had the third fastest 50 and older time and one of the best lifetime racing résumés in the region – PR of 13:43 for 5K and 28:39 for 10K. Still, he just laughed when asked if he was going to break the tape this time. New minted grandmaster Jean Christophe Arcaz is a prolific racer and he always seems to do his best when the competition is tough. During his forties he and Ted Poulos had scores of close battles. This time he took the top grandmaster spot in 23:42 for 13th overall. The grandmaster best was set by Chuck Moeser in 2009 with 23:15.
Former age group winner Richard Adams, 60, was too tired to look around to see that nobody was close as he won by nearly three minutes In 26:54. His daughter was out on the course racing as well. Meanwhile Jason Page, 66, an age group record holder was on hand to watch his daughter race as well. She sure looked good racing. Page was at the Cascades Firechase 10K to watch another daughter win it all last month. Page will be back on the roads in time to take a shot at returning his rankings crown this summer.
In the morning the Lawyers have Heart race was turned into a 5K because of the heat. That was okay for Bob Gurtler, 76, of the Plains, VA. He had already run 35 of them this year. Still, by evening he was already itching to put in some more miles, winning his age group.
When John Piggott heard the top woman coming in he perked up his ears. Did they say Williamsburg? He knew he would know all the top racers from his hometown. Darcy McDonald led a well spaced line of young runners to the finish line. She ran the event’s third fastest time, 23:07. Laurel Jefferson followed in the sixth fastest time with 23:35. Third place went to Margie Shapiro with the seventh fastest time in 23:53. Only eight women have broken 24:00 on this course.
Shapiro is a =PR= owner. Her fine race was her first race in several years.
Master winner Linda Foley will soon be fifty. Finishing sixth in 25:49 she was not far off her overall winning time form the first year, 2007, when she ran 25:23. For the grandmasters, Liza Recto had just turned 55 and she thought she had a chance to medal. When the called her name as first in 32:02, she learned the she was top grandmaster as well, not far of the 55-59 record of 31:36.
On each runner’s bib was an F tag for food and a B tag for beer. Beer of course only went to adults but the burritos from Moe’s Southwest Grill went to all the runners. There were all kinds of juices, water, and soda as well as doughnuts, cookie, chips. Nobody was going to leave hungry. As the band started up, hundreds of runners mingled around the circus-like venue. There was a dunk tank and moon bounces, and the soft ice cream stand quickly formed a line.
When the awards were being announced, many of the runners were still eating and drinking. It sure is wonderful to get the awards so fast that everyone is still there to get them. While the race totals very with the temperatures over the years. This year’s 989 four mile finishers combined with the fun runners to more than 1100 participants which are very close to the most ever.
Overall Female
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Darcy McDonald Williamsburg VA 479 24 10 23:06.2 23:06.9 5:47/M
2 Laurel Jefferson Washington DC 539 25 14 23:33.3 23:34.1 5:53/M
3 Margaret Shapiro Herndon VA 642 34 17 23:51.9 23:52.1 5:58/M
Female Masters
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Linda Foley Oak Hill VA 204 49 33 25:47.0 25:48.2 6:27/M
Female 14 & Younger
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Adriana Rosas Silver Spring MD 857 11 113 30:06.6 30:08.2 7:32/M
2 Brenda Rosas Silver Spring MD 859 12 151 31:28.0 31:28.8 7:52/M
3 Emily Landeryou Reston VA 863 11 256 34:59.7 35:09.0 8:45/M
Female 15 to 19
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Corey Bolyard Sterling VA 544 16 98 29:41.5 29:46.5 7:25/M
2 Kelly O'Toole Woodbridge VA 506 18 101 29:47.0 29:55.0 7:27/M
3 Alayna Bigalbal Leesburg VA 607 15 132 30:44.1 30:45.0 7:41/M
Female 20 to 24
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Petra Cotes Annandale VA 386 22 24 24:56.7 24:57.0 6:14/M
2 Meagan Klein Arlington VA 803 24 149 31:25.4 31:37.5 7:51/M
3 Maddie Humphrey Reston VA 279 23 159 31:40.1 32:12.0 7:55/M
Female 25 to 29
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Sarah Bard Leesburg VA 382 26 31 25:40.8 25:41.5 6:25/M
2 Kathryn Neeper Washington DC 430 27 37 26:03.3 26:03.6 6:31/M
3 Michelle Christine Leesburg VA 641 29 108 29:53.1 29:56.6 7:28/M
Female 30 to 34
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Jennifer Pantall Sterling VA 414 32 76 28:26.1 28:30.8 7:07/M
2 Mary Otto Centreville VA 648 30 111 29:54.9 29:57.6 7:29/M
3 Amanda Statz Alexandria VA 69 32 118 30:17.4 30:20.6 7:34/M
Female 35 to 39
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Nancy Eiring Washington DC 827 38 56 26:59.3 27:00.8 6:45/M
2 Tatiana Sheptock South Riding VA 563 35 67 28:03.4 28:05.8 7:01/M
3 Alison Gittelman South Riding VA 34 38 71 28:13.7 28:17.8 7:03/M
Female 40 to 44
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Mijiko Phelps Reston VA 522 41 43 26:24.9 26:26.2 6:36/M
2 Kim Isler Oakton VA 404 43 59 27:16.9 27:17.8 6:49/M
3 Sue Piergallini Ashburn VA 493 44 106 29:51.2 30:03.0 7:28/M
Female 45 to 49
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Anita Freres Reston VA 871 46 65 27:43.5 27:51.2 6:56/M
2 Karen Ames Purcellville VA 496 45 154 31:32.0 31:40.0 7:53/M
3 Stephanie Cappello Ashburn VA 835 47 187 32:40.1 32:54.2 8:10/M
Female 50 to 54
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Cynthia Revesman Oak Hill VA 504 50 188 32:44.2 32:58.6 8:11/M
2 Paula Looney Ashburn VA 371 50 221 34:05.8 34:11.0 8:31/M
3 Shari Sturm McLean VA 282 50 295 35:55.5 36:39.8 8:59/M
Female 55 to 59
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Lisa Recto Lexington Park MD 707 55 167 31:57.5 32:02.1 7:59/M
2 Carla Bourgeois Montclair VA 840 58 345 36:56.8 37:16.4 9:14/M
3 Liz Roberts Leesburg VA 589 55 361 37:23.8 37:37.8 9:21/M
Female 60 to 64
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Lucille Walke Ashburn VA 674 62 45 26:28.8 26:28.8 6:37/M
2 Gayle Novig McLean VA 378 60 564 42:52.0 43:14.9 10:43/M
Overall Male
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Aaron Church South Riding VA 501 35 1 20:24.9 20:24.9 5:06/M
2 Kent Pecora Chapel Hill NO 524 22 2 20:37.7 20:37.7 5:09/M
3 Ryan Deak Burke VA 843 25 3 20:45.6 20:45.6 5:11/M
Male Masters
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 John Piggott Williamsburg VA 554 46 8 22:29.9 22:29.9 5:37/M
Male 14 & Younger
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Nathan Vigil Ashburn VA 786 13 102 29:48.0 29:50.7 7:27/M
2 Adam Bolton Leesburg VA 332 11 168 31:57.6 32:10.2 7:59/M
3 Eli Lifland Fairfax VA 869 12 210 33:46.1 33:52.6 8:27/M
Male 15 to 19
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Logan Feierbach Leesburg VA 396 16 22 24:22.3 24:22.6 6:06/M
2 Samuel Rodgers Leesburg VA 560 16 40 26:12.4 26:13.0 6:33/M
3 Mark Newberry Ashburn VA 537 16 51 26:48.8 26:49.3 6:42/M
Male 20 to 24
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Ethan Rissell Shippensburg PA 387 21 5 21:12.4 21:12.4 5:18/M
2 Matt Weber Sterling VA 626 20 23 24:30.2 24:30.2 6:08/M
3 Darin Miller Arlington VA 320 23 25 25:00.1 25:09.3 6:15/M
Male 25 to 29
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Josh Peterson Minneapolis MN 801 27 7 21:56.7 21:56.7 5:29/M
2 Justin Fritzius Purcellville VA 902 26 9 22:51.4 22:51.4 5:43/M
3 Pat DeRocco Arlington VA 571 27 12 23:26.6 23:27.1 5:52/M
Male 30 to 34
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Hugh Toland Fairfax VA 551 30 4 21:01.7 21:01.7 5:15/M
2 Aaron Schwartzbard Reston VA 600 33 6 21:18.8 21:18.8 5:20/M
3 Thomas Abbey Centreville VA 211 30 50 26:46.0 26:49.6 6:42/M
Male 35 to 39
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Marco Rosas Silver Spring MD 858 36 16 23:45.5 23:46.1 5:56/M
2 Rich Roberts Washington DC 818 39 18 24:06.2 24:08.0 6:02/M
3 Rob Meadows Landsdowne VA 759 39 19 24:10.6 24:10.6 6:03/M
Male 40 to 44
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Todd Jarman Potomac Falls VA 375 41 11 23:24.0 23:24.1 5:51/M
2 Kevin Bell Reston VA 666 42 13 23:30.0 23:30.1 5:53/M
3 Stephen Crago Vienna VA 254 42 20 24:11.9 24:13.5 6:03/M
Male 45 to 49
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 George Lane Ashburn VA 123 45 27 25:07.1 25:09.0 6:17/M
2 Dan DiFonzo Rockville MD 624 48 39 26:08.7 26:09.6 6:32/M
3 Rich Harfst Annandale VA 795 47 54 26:53.9 26:56.7 6:43/M
Male 50 to 54
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Jean Christophe Arcaz Rockville MD 829 50 15 23:41.3 23:41.7 5:55/M
2 George Buckheit Reston VA 842 53 28 25:14.5 25:15.5 6:19/M
3 David Pinnick Manassas VA 650 54 47 26:33.1 26:35.9 6:38/M
Male 55 to 59
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Chris Dettmar Reston VA 408 57 103 29:48.0 29:57.7 7:27/M
2 Stephen Nettl Reston VA 526 58 268 35:12.2 35:52.2 8:48/M
3 Ray Deegan Leesburg VA 274 55 269 35:13.2 35:35.6 8:48/M
Male 60 to 64
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Richard Adams Herndon VA 660 60 55 26:54.1 26:54.5 6:44/M
2 Jay Wind Arlington VA 706 61 96 29:35.3 29:37.3 7:24/M
3 Daniel Bentz Oak Hill VA 88 60 510 41:29.1 42:06.0 10:22/M
Male 70 to 74
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Tim Long Reston VA 306 70 503 41:15.0 41:32.0 10:19/M
Male 75 and older
Over Chip Gun
Place Name City Bib No Age all Time Time Pace
1 Robert Gurtler The Plains VA 272 76 600 44:38.5 44:45.2 11:10/M
