Photos by Jeanne Larrison

Seven years ago the race started as a jaunt through the park with 123 finishers. Every year it added a couple hundred runners. This year's perfect weather brought out 1505 finishers, crushing last year's record 949 runners. It was little surprise that six of the 13 men to break 27:00 in the history of the race did so today. Bright sunshine, no wind, and forty-five degrees made this race a runner's paradise. Past years with ice and cold have produced winning times as slow as Greg Cauller's 28:11in 2002. That held up as the masters record until this year when Cauller, now 47, raced a 27:31 for tenth overall. In photo, Race Director Jim Adams gets the runners started.

In 2004, Jill Krebs set the women's record in 29:25, the only time under thirty minutes. Vicki Cauller had won in 2002 in 30:49 for eighth overall. Cauller becomes the only two time winner of the race, breaking the record this year with 28:51. Naturally, the men's record had to go too. Michael Stycznski had set a tough standard in 2001 racing 25:30. The past two years, Matt Seymour at 25:59 (2004) and Brian Godsey 25:57 (2005) had nibbled at the bait but fallen a ways short.

This year Dave Berdan roared up the third of a mile hill at the start ahead of more runners (in photo, some of those runners) than the race had in the first three years combined. By the two mile mark as the lead bicycle weaved its way back through the throngs of runners, urging them to stay to the right, Berdan had an insurmountable lead. The course starts up hill, follows a winding, roiling course through 5K. Then the course scoots down the hill to the lake. The journey around the lake is flat and today calm. The last downhill gives runners a chance to really gun their engines. Berdan's new record time was 25:19.

Carlos Renifos finished second as he had last year but faster at 26:19 than his spot before in 26:45. Brian Godsey settled for third slowing nearly a minute to 26:47. Look out for some more fast times next year. Anders Hulleberg, at just 18, might be expected to have a swifter time than his 26:52, fourth overall. For the women, Laura Paulsen (17) was second overall in 30:05 for the third fastest time ever and just the sixth time under thirty-one minutes. Master's champion Kelly Dworak (44), in 31:54, just missed last year's record of 31:48 set by Maureen Hall.

This year the prizes included cash for the masters and grand masters champions. In the grand master division, there was another large field of the elite older road warriors. Course record holder Maurice Pointer, who ran 29:24 last year, was absent. Mick Slonaker (57) avenged his loss to Tim Morgan (56). Peter Darmody darted out to the lead in the early hills and ended up with a fine 30:10.40 to squeeze past Morgan's 30:10.75 from last year as the runner-up. Just before three miles Mike Hart of Washington, DC, relegated Darmody to runner- up as well, nearly catching the record with 29:30.

Runners circle the lake with about a mile to go

With all these runners, it was great that the DJ kept announcing that we save food and drink for the runners that would finish later. With that, there was plenty of food for all the finishers. Refreshments included hot soup and hot drinks as well as the standard, doughnuts, cookies, chips, and fruit. Gladly the warm sun made everyone very comfortable before, during, and after the race. This year we did not have the building in which to go inside. There just would not have been room for all the 1500 runners in the Stieff Silver Building that had been so generously been used the first six years.

Next year the race will probably become even bigger. Races benefit from ads but even more so from success, stimulating word of mouth. The very successful race donated its race day registration monies to the park and the RRCA. Next year, the race might very well shuttle runners to the course from a large lot down the road. The ChampionChip system enabled runners to see their results posted race day.

Don't miss out the eighth race next December!

Runners cross the bridge over Jones Falls Parkway at the very end of the race.

Top Awards

Overall Male						
1 Berdan, David	        Baltimore, MD	25	25:19.00
2 Renjifo, Carlos	Columbia, MD	24	26:19.90
3 Godsey, Brian	        Baltimore, MD	25	26:46.40


Overall Female						
1 Cauller, Vicki	York, PA	34	28:50.55 
2 Paulsen, Laura	Lutherville, MD	17	30:05.00 
3 Breitenbach, Katie	Elkridge, MD	26      31:16.55 


Masters Male						
1 Cauller, Greg	        York, PA	47	27:30.85
 
Masters Female						
1 Dworak, Kelly	        Burke, VA	44	31:53.95


GrandMaster Female						
1 Smith, Linell	        Baltimore, MD	54	36:39.85
GrandMaster Male						
1 Hart, Mike	        Washington, DC	51	29:29.40

Full Race Day Results