Above, runners prepare for the 11th annual race to start.

As the race begins, runners scurry down the hill.

For eleven years this race has been drawing pie lovers to Frederick to race a 10K. In the early years the race was at Fort Detrick. Later it moved out to the canal. For the last five years it has been at the entrance to the Frederick Municipal Forest. The course meanders down the hill for nearly all of the out part of the course including a ski slope quarter mile. Coming back the road is long with many a windy turn. Nobody ever has negative splits.

The huge draw for the race, which doubled the race is size, is the home baked selection of pies as races prizes. The Lowrie family, Jim and Barbara with son James, has provided the pies since the race's inception. This year they got some extra help and the number of pies (20) matched the number of finishers in last year's race. Like bees to honey, runners sensed this and the number of finishers swelled to forty-two.

After the race, John Clarke (l) and Malcolm Senior wait humbly for a pie.

The race, part of the club race series, is free to members and just $3 for everyone else. Four of the last year's top five were absent. Runner-up Victor Cetella (36) of New Market, MD moved up his 40:55 time from last year to win this year in 39:29. He shed third place Seton Zacot (16) with 41:58 near the 5K point and powered to victory. Runner-up Stephen Dobson (46) of nearby Thurmont, MD started more leisurely and worked his way through the ranks. He passed a runner nearly every mile as they flamed out on the returning hills. He finished in 41:33.

Last year there were only two women in the race. They finished top two again. Karen Young (39) of Boyds, MD improved two minutes to 47:17, which was faster than last year's winning time of 47:22 by Felicia Gudat (36). However, Gudat pulled away in the final uphill mile to win again, this time in 46:44. She also won in 2005 with 46:28. There were a dozen more women finishing in the race this year. Third place Mary Zielinski (41) of Boonsboro, MD was the masters champion in 48:13.

Full Race Day Results