The Loudoun Race Series begins.

Normally the spring season starts with the St. Patrick's Day 8K and, of course, Daylight Savings Time. This year we had a warm January and a well below normal February. Daylight Savings Time moved up to this Sunday the 11th and the balmy weather came just in time for the renewal of the Van Metre 5M. The race was last run on a warm and extremely wet October day in 2005. Now it is a spring event.

After winning outright 18 of 23 races in 2006, Gurmesa Kumsa (27) of Oxon Hill, MD was the favorite. Indeed, he had already won three races in the winter season to start the year. In February, he matched well with his top challengers, winning the GW Birthday 10K in 30:55. Steven Crane (25) of Alexandria, VA had him in his sights as he crested the final hill but could not close, running 31:04. Michael Wardian (33) of Arlington, VA had outlasted Patrick MacAdie (23) of Washington, DC 31:35 to 31:38. Mega racer Wardian had two half marathons this winter season and a marathon last week, winning the B&A Trail in 2:25:30, so he would not have the legs to challenge.

A rested MacAdie (in photo) was ready and clung to Kumsa through the only real hill in the first mile and then made Kumsa not dare look over his shoulder the rest of the way. He battled past Crane to finish as runner-up in 25:09. Crane was tantalizingly close in 25:11. Two weeks ago he had run a sparkling 1:24:16, winning the Belle Haven 25K by nearly two miles with the fastest time in at least a dozen years. Mr. Automatic, Kumsa, cruised under Clairborne Parkway and up to the finish line to win in 25:04.

When the course was run last, the runners finished the race by coming out of the woods (on a bike path) and crossed Clariborne Parkway immediately. This left a straight, slightly downhill quarter mile to the finish. This year the runners stayed on the left side of the road before circling on a cloverleaf path to run below the road, adding about 150 meters to the distance. Although the race appeared to be run on a similar course, the fifth mile splits made it clear that the race was somewhat longer than advertised.

Sarah Spalding (25) of Washington, DC (in photo) had tested the waters with an easy win at the By George 5K in 17:53 (10K = 37:14). She had to feel confidant. At the last Van Metre race, Ray Pugsley of Sterling, VA and Potomac River Running won in 25:58. This year, he was the sitter and his wife Cathy (37) was going to compete. She said that she only races about four times a year. The last time was a 39:02 at the Acumen Solutions Jingle All the Way 10K. Still, she bounded gamely after Spalding, finishing second in 30:55 (10K = 38:58). Spalding had a comfortable win in 30:24. Monica Grillo (42) of Arlington, VA started slower and kept picking up pace, passing Betsy Ames (23) of Herndon, VA for third place overall 32:33 to 32:44. Anita Freres (42) of Reston, VA was a solid fifth overall in 33:26, which did not allow Grillo to ease up at all.

The race, with 564 finishers, crushing the totals from past years, is due to move to five year age groups next year. Only once in the last five years did the race top 300 finishers.

The food was not just runner delights such as doughnuts and coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. The race featured a "Taste of Broadlands" this year and there was real food such as chicken and meats and vegetables, bringing a wonderful aroma to encircle the Broadlands Nature Center. Cheerful volunteers served up to the hot foods. Fruits with granola and yogurts gave variety to the repast.

The older divisions were not as strong as in many other local races. For the masters, Jean Christophe Arcaz (46) of Rockville, MD had a nice 28:40 to put away his division rival Ted Poulos (45) of McLean. Poulos is always ready to race, but his 29:29 is not up to his normal standards. He raced a much better 28:48 to win the hilly Celtic Solstice in December.

As with the young masters, the elders in the age group took the hardware. Bill Taylor (58) of Woodbridge, VA won a narrow victory of Dan Eddy (55) of Alexandria, VA 30:45 to 30:54. For now, that is the fastest 5-mile time in our region for 2007. Rick Platt of Williamsburg, VA is forecasting a sub 30:00 at the Shamrock 8K next week. Look for some top times from the St. Patrick's 8K on Sunday the 18th as well. Chan Robbins (69) of Arlington, VA won the 60-69 division. Philip Hager (70) of Falls Church, VA won the eldest division in 39:33. After more than year off, Larry Dickerson (75) of Burke, VA is back and getting ready to give Jack McMahon some competition in his five year age group.

For the women, four of the masters made the top ten. After third place Monica Grillo and fifth the place Anita Freres, Jeanne Grillo (45) of Potomac, MD was eighth in 35:28 and Laeticia Warring (44) of Reston, VA was ninth in 35:42. Elizabeth Starr (50) of Aldie, VA cruised ahead of the grandmaster field in 39:39. There were only two women older than 54 and none older than 58.

In photo above, a large contingency also ran the children's 1 mile fun run. As always, there were lots of gifts for them and random prizes for the adults.

Awards

FEMALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                    Age City                      Time  
===== ===== ======================= === ========================= ===== 
    1  1901 Sarah Spalding           25 Washington DC             30:24 
    2    17 Cathy Pugsley            37 Sterling VA               30:55 
    3  1946 Monica Grillo            42 Arlington VA              32:33 
MALE OVERALL
Place Num   Name                    Age City                      Time  
===== ===== ======================= === ========================= ===== 
    1  1979 Gurmesa Kumsa            29 Waldorf MD                25:04 
    2  1959 Patrick MacAdie          23 Washington DC             25:09 
    3    14 Steven Crane             25 Alexandria VA             25:11 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19
    1    32 Kathryn Stephens         18 Leesburg VA               39:20 
    2  1875 Kelly Rubil              19 Fairfax Station VA        43:14 
MALE AGE GROUP:  1 - 19
    1   326 Andrew Budiansky         16 Leesburg VA               28:12 
    2  1883 Matthew Holten           13 Leesburg VA               36:07 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 29
    1  1988 Betsy Eames              23 Herndon VA                32:40 
    2  1977 Kathy Dalby              28 Arlington VA              34:29 
MALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 29
    1  2432 Maru Daba                27 Washington DC             27:06 
    2   234 Dave Atkiss              24 Centreville VA            27:13 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 39
    1   459 Norma Fall               38 Gainesville VA            35:09 
    2   174 Jennifer Van Den Berg    37 Sterling VA               35:40 
MALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 39
    1    18 Eric Lavigne             30 Leesburg VA               25:26 
    2    16 Michael Wardian          32 Arlington VA              25:52 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 49
    1  1930 Anita Freres             42 Reston VA                 33:20 
    2  1945 Jeanne Grillo            45 Potomac MD                35:21 
MALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 49
    1  1895 Jean Christophe Arcaz    46 Rockville MD              28:40 
    2  1893 Ted Poulos               45 Mc Lean VA                29:29 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 59
    1  3010 Elizabeth Starr          50 Aldie VA                  39:39 
    2  1966 Shawn Miller             50 Ashburn VA                42:40 
MALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 59
    1  1900 Bill Taylor              58 Woodbridge VA             30:45 
    2    54 Dan Eddy                 55 Alexandria VA             30:54 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 69
MALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 69
    1  1856 Chan Robbins             69 Arlington VA              37:25 
    2    50 Michael Kush             61 Burke VA                  38:41 
FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 98
MALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 98
    1   424 Philip Hager             70 Falls Church VA           39:33 
    2   696 Terence McCarthy         71 Leesburg VA               43:53 

Prizes

$300 - 1st place male and female overall
$200 - 2nd place male and female overall
$100 - 3rd place male and female overall


Scores of random prizes included:
** Lunch for two at the Tuscarora Mill
** 4 - $250 gift certificates to South Riding Nurseries (from 
        KT Landscape)
** 2 passes to Showcase and Multiplex Cinemas 
** $20 gift certificate to Olive Garden 
** 2 dinners at Red Robin 
** 21 free desserts - TGI Friday's 
** 4 $25 gift certificates and a gift basket from the Main 
      Ingredient 
** 9 public skate admission passes to the Ashburn Ice House

In the photo below, the shaded one, Eric Lavigne (30) of Leesburg, VA finished fourth in 25:27. Michael Wardian can be seen hurrying after him.

Race Day Report for 2007
Full Race Day Results
Photo Gallery 2007
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Page 3