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Georgetown Running Company Father's Day 8K
By Dickson Mercer
Washington, DC
June 20, 2010
For the Washington Running Report
Father's Day brought a scorcher with temperatures approaching 100 degrees. But it did not stop almost 200 runners from gathering at 6:30 p.m. beneath the Key Bridge before the entrance to the asphalt Capital Crescent Trail, which served as the start and finish line for the Georgetown Running Company's annual out-and-back Father's Day 8K.
For 75-year-old Robert Gurtler of The Plains, VA, the early evening start provided an opportunity to sneak in an extra race. His Father's Day began in Reston, VA with the Run for Dad 5K. In Georgetown, Gurtler's time of 52:56 was good enough to win the 70 and older age group (and it was actually his fourth race of the weekend).
For the second year, the Father's Day 8K consisted of 4K out and 4K back on the flat-and-fast CCT (which remained open for public use). For the first time, the Father's Day 8K served as something of a booster for GRC's elite racing team, which plans to send more than a dozen athletes to the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and also hopes to return to the USATF National Club Cross Country Championship in December. Despite working full-time jobs, the 30-plus runners that comprise GRC's elite racing team train upwards of 100 miles a week and race at a high level locally and nationally.
In the weeks leading up to the Father Day's 8K, some members of the racing team promoted the event by operating a Saturday morning water station on the CCT and the C&O Canal towpath. On race day, such members could be found putting on the race: passing out water at miles 2 and 3, working in the starting and finishing area, guiding the lead runners on bicycles, and cheering on/instructing runners at the turnaround.
GRC's Joe Wiegner, on the other hand, participated in the effort by going head-to-head with the race's elite field, which included Arlington's Michael Wardian (a two-time qualifier for the Olympic Trials Marathon, one of the best ultra-runners in the world, and an avid racer of all distances) and D.C.'s Berhanu Wukaw Zeleke (a local road warrior who has a marathon best of 2:20).
Wiegner, Wardian, and Zeleke ran in a pack of three for the first mile until Wiegner threw in a surge and took a lead he would not relinquish. The 28-year-old teacher and Germantown resident hit halfway in 12:25 and held on for a swift winning time of 24:51.
With the win, Wiegner proved he is clear of injuries which hampered his training late last year. The problems started in November with an Achilles injury. As soon as that healed and Wiegner found himself returning to form, the former NCAA Division III All-American for Lock Haven University came down with a bad case of bronchitis, which he later learned was allergy related.
Within the past couples months, however, Wiegner (or "Wiggy," as he is known to teammates) has settled into a weekly schedule of a speed workout in the middle of the week plus a weekend race. His volume in training has reached about 70 miles per week and the Father's Day 8K yielded his best result yet since his return to solid form.
"I thought this was a better race than last week's," he said, "and last week's race was better than the race I ran a week before that. I feel like I've been getting better and better."
Before the race, Wiegner appropriately dedicated the race to his father. On his training blog, his pre-race post is titled "This one is for my dad tonight."
Long term, Wiegner said he is focused on the ING Philadelphia Rock ‘n' Roll Half Marathon (formerly known as the Philadelphia Distance Run), where he hopes to improve upon his 2008 result (1:08.10 for 22nd place). He also plans to make his marathon debut in Chicago.
As he emerged from the CCT, Wardian picked up his youngest son Pierce and crossed the line with him in 26:01 for second place. Zeleke, twenty seconds back, took third.
Kayley Byrne, 22, of Oak Hill, VA won the women's race in 30:38. Last month, Byrne graduated from the College of William & Mary, where she clocked 16:46 for 5K and 35:35 for 10K. She will soon start a job with Unisys, and has her sights set on the Richmond Marathon in November.
Editor's note: Byrne also won the PRR Twilight Festival 4M the night before in Ashburn, VA with 24:01.
Almaz Areda, 28, of Washington, DC came through in second in 31:48, while Emmy Waldman, 22, of Washington, DC took third in 33:06.
The Father's Day 8K drew a sizeable contingent from the Washington, DC chapter of Back on my Feet. According to the nonprofit organization's website, the group "promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem." Back on my Feet was founded in Philadelphia in 2007 and expanded to Washington, DC. in March. Program coordinator Gretchen Gates said more than 20 of the group's participants completed the race.
Jay Wind, the director of the annual Potomac River Run and founder of Marathon Charity Cooperation, handled the timing of the race, while Liza Recto, who operates Lizard Timing, measured the course (ensuring its USATF certification) and lent some of her gear for the finish chute. What is more, the 54-year-old Lexington Park, MD resident ran the race, finishing in 41:08 and winning her age group.
The race's sponsors included Georgetown Cupcake, Skinny Water, and Bethesda Bagels. Afterward, GRC's racing team manager, Jake Klim, who spearheaded the race's organization for the team, revealed that the Georgetown Running Company plans to continue hosting the race annually. Registration will max out at around 350 participants and Klim hopes GRC will draw as many runners in 2011.
For complete race results
Check out a large Photo Gallery by Jimmy Daly HERE.