Runners head across the school parking lot to the finish.

This evolving race put on by the Annapolis Striders continues to grow. Ignoring the rule of "If it aint broke; don't fix it."; they cannily followed the ever popular, "Where there is a will; there is a way".

Father's Day usually meant a trip just down the road near the Anne Arundel Hospital. Runners ended upon another stretch of the familiar and friendly B&A Trail. The Dawson's 5 mile was run in September. Then in 2003, they pulled a switcheroo. Both races featured moderately fast courses with only a few scenic, rolling hills. Both races featured low fees and a great spread of food afterwards. Many striders races are now in the "shirtless zone." Members pay three dollars while the mysterious strangers from out of town have to fork over four dollars.

All their races are near the water and most are right close to the B & A Trail. For three years, runners, like kids in summer, scooted out of Severna Park High School and headed for the hills Butchie Boy. Out back there was an old county road, cool from shade trees, but undulating. Circling back on the Trail runners came back to school for the finish. Then last year, the race added another 2K tumor to the race. Instead of circling back home on Robinson Road, runners had to pass by the turn and continued down the trail for half the extra distance. Lots of heat challenged runners stared longingly before choosing not to cut the course.

In 2007, it was learned that the status of the race was in doubt until the last week as the course needed a presence of police. The county road and its truly charming hills were now off limits. So this version had the runners making a quick U-be to race down Robinson Road and through the neighborhoods. A mile of quick turns and racers pop out on the trail for the first out and back. Again, the first five miles were cool and the last out and back saw many a slow down, near work stoppage as runners headed for the finish.

The women's race again featured Sheryl Kline (44) of Arnold, MD. Kline had run her first 5 mile race here just a few years before. She felt a special need to brand this course her own. She dispensed with all but runner-up Amanda Beal before the runners hit the Trail for the first time. Her winning time of 40:28 was 21st among all runners. Believe it or not, last year was even hotter and her winning time was 42:29. The young'uns could not handle that heat. The next three runners were all seasoned veterans - Holly Marcum (40) 42:45, followed by a photo finish with Jill Hargis (45) 43:03.48 and Marcie Boyd (44) 43:04.00. This year Hargis was absent and Boyd moved up to third. With less than a half mile to go a runner rushed by her and grandmaster Mike Lord. They both moved over and Lord asked, "Are there any more coming?" Boyd replied, "You bet! There is another one on my "back" right now." Perhaps fearing that fourth place Sierra Schenk, who had been in her pack most of the way, Boyd geared up and pulled away from Lord to finish in 42:41.

Before the race Robert Marino (49) of Hanover, MD (left in photo) was relaxed. He had just finished the Bay Bridge swim and was ready to become a harrier again. He noted that in September he would become a grandmaster. That field was strong again this year. Marino, though he was well aware that Jim Hage would be fifty in February, in his always confident manner, feels certain he will be a major factor in the new division. Today, he was more inclined to go after the overall win. At the first out and back (5K), Marino was definitely straining. Scott Koehler was pressing too on the fourth mile downgrade and had a full 100 meter lead. Justin Marvel was only about thirty meters ahead of Marino.

As some runners headed down the last dog leg, Koehler was already on Robinson Road headed for a solid 34:34 victory. Marvel would get second in 35:12. As Marino turned the last corner, he kept up the pressure. Still, on the hottest part of the course, the last third of a mile is slightly upgrade and he could not close. He finished in an excellent 35:26. Last Koehler had run 35:29 to best Marvel's 36:21. Both of their times succumbed to muggy weather and the fleet feet of Larry Contrella (19) in 33:52. A race sponsor this year Fleet Feet of Annapolis was handing out free mugs to runners at the finish.

Paul Peterson (53) of Bethesda, MD (right in photo) claims he has not run a 10K in "probably ten years." Actually, it was February of 2004 at the GW Birthday 10K. No matter, he was there to take on the regular top dogs of the striders, David Webster of Stevensville, MD and Paul Serra of Arnold, MD (center in photo).

Before the race, Webster cryptically noted that he would do just half the race. Serra ran a 39:52 for third. Last year, he bested Webster for the crown 39:18 to 39:37. This year Peterson rumbled along in 38:26. The laid back Peterson probably did not even know about Marino impending age change or even that Weems McFadden trailing just behind in 38:37 would also be reborn a grandmaster in September. McFadden certainly knew that fellow Howard County Strider John Chall had already made the age move and was pushing strongly from behind. Chall (in photo) finished in 38:48 for second in the division.

For the older folks, Rose Malloy (58) of Annapolis, MD had won last year in 47:54 but this year was nursing an injured knee. She was still out there volunteering at the water stop. This veteran runner helped the newbees by pointing out which runners would want water. "This guy won't need to stop for water." Tami Graf (70) of Lusby, MD (in photo) came, saw, and conquered in 59:42. She was even prouder of her daughter Robin Moon (48), who finished 6th woman and first in her age group in 44:10.

Richard Williams (71) of Alexandria, VA continues to slim down for speed. His margin of victory is rarely slim, finishing in 50:22 for a five minute gap. Ronnie Wong (60) of Catonsville, MD is enjoying the new age group. He is on his way to 200 marathons with ten raced already this year. John Kirkpatrick (63) has been the dominating hometown favorite for many years. They two dueled the entire way with the younger Wong triumphing 40:36 to 40:42. Wong was so jubilant that he was stopping exhausted finishers in the chute. "I beat John! I beat John!"

Yvonne Aasen (75) of Severna Park, MD finished in 1:11:42 just nine seconds slower than the Best of 2007 set by Jacqueline O'Neil at Pike's Peek. While this virtually flat course brought some year's best time for some runners, most would say April's weather on the net downhill Pike's Peek was more conducive to fast times.

Other awards included and nice trophy and gift certificates to Dawson's Wine and Spirits Shop just up the Trail. In years past beer was one of the refreshments after the race. Also, there were awards from National Sporting Goods, who had their regular expo set up to offer sports shopping to the more than four hundred runners in this year's race.

There were lots of regular bananas, bagels, cookies, and pretzels inside the school. Out side were ice filled buckets of bottled water and gallons of Gatorade. The prizes included a choice of 12 packs of soda or Gatorade. (In Photo), Weems McFadden, goes after the Gatorade.

Awards - Men

Overall	   Scott Koehler	34:33.3
	   Justin Marvel	35:12.0
Masters	   Robert Marino	35:25.4
14 & under Dillon Cooley	45:10.2
	   Erik Hedin           50:19.3
	   Matthew Hedin	50:22.3
15-19	   Trevor Keen          35:53.1
	   Ryan	Cleaver	        40:52.9
	   Robert Warrington 	41:32.9
20-29	   Matt Fortin	        35:56.2
	   Joseph Garcia	39:42.2
	   Michael Dusenbery	40:37.9
30-39	   Robert Tisch	        36:33.0
	   Tom Heinemann	38:23.2
	   Robert Cawood	39:28.0
40-49	   Thomas Hattar	38:06.3
	   Weems McFadden	38:36.9
	   Matthew Mace	        38:41.8
50-59	   Paul Peterson	38:25.1
	   John	Chall	        38:47.3
	   Paul	Serra	        39:51.8
60-69	   Ronnie Wong	        40:35.3
	   John Kirkpatrick	40:41.7
	   Joe Clorety	        43:09.1
70 +	   Richard Williams	50:21.4
	   Gus Jacobs	        55:24.4
	   Arnold Henderson 	57:15.1

Surrounded by bright colors Richard Williams (71) of Alexandria, VA celebrates another victory.

Awards - Women

Overall	    Sheryl Kline	40:27.9
	    Amanda Beal	        41:24.1
Masters	    Marjorie Boyd	42:40.8
14 & under  Megan Konigkramer	53:24.0
	    Elizabeth Hahn	07:46.8
			
15-19	    Candice Dickson	47:47.4
	    Elaine Chung	51:35.4
	    Brooke Warrington 	58:14.6
20-29	    Sierra Schenk	42:56.8
	    Kelly Gonzalez	44:35.1
	    Kelly Patrick	44:59.4
30-39	    Lauren Finn	        43:39.8
	    Kelly Baird	        45:01.0
	    Karen Young	        45:33.7
40-49	    Robin Moon	        44:09.4
	    Elisa Velarde	45:17.2
	    Holly Marcum	45:46.3
50-59	    Maria Shields	46:29.8
	    Mary Lang	        50:33.6
	    Janice Uthe	        50:46.0
60-69	    Claudia Crawford	56:20.6
	    Molly Sherwood	60:53.6
	    Sue Jeffrey	        63:18.7
70 +	    Tami Graf	        59:41.6
	    Yvonne Aasen	71:41.4

Karen Young of Boyds, MD will be turning 39 on June 20th. She celebrates her 22nd 10K of the year (out of 42 races so far) with her third fastest time of 45:34. She earned third in her 30-39 division.

In the photo below, runners head into the shade at the finish.

Full Race Day Results