Hot diggity dog! Who would have thought they could have improved after last year's great inaugural race? Speared on by glowing praise for last year's twisting pretzel of a race through the gently rolling hills of Germantown, they turned up the heat. Last year's overcast skies held the temperatures down to a moderate 55, which helped Erik Kean win the five-miler in just under twenty-five minutes. This year the skies were clear blue and the sun baked the course at around 75 degrees. Of course, that made standing around after the race eating treats, listening to awards, and garnering one of the scores of great random prizes all the more pleasant.

Great races treat their runners special. Congenial race director Danny Talmage did just that, having the time of his life doing it. He told me that he learned much of what makes a good race from the Montgomery County Road Runners. That club, one of the largest in the country, prides itself on well-run races that offer a major bargain to the runners. Talmage had deservedly high praise for his race team, including Wayne and Tara who did a superb job at gathering sponsors to help fund the Boys and Girls Club of Germantown and to bring product to the runners.

There were almost five hundred participants in the combined events, including a 2-mile fun walk/run, with just over 300 finishers in the five-mile. Age group prizes went three deep in five-year increments through the 75-99 grouping. In fact, they added a 14 and under category this year. Pastor Mark Stephens, with host Seneca Creek Community Church, told me that among their successful goals for the race was to make it a family event. He praised the MCRRC Kids on the Run events and said he wants to continue to solidify this new race, with the goal of being one of the finest races in Montgomery County.

I predicted that when runners sniffed out that there was cash for the first three overall winners: $300, $200, $100 in each sex, and a potential of eighty-four age group winners, the numbers of swift runners would increase. The numbers of the not- so-swift will continue to increase also when they learn of all the great random prizes. Talmage passed out prize envelopes in such a hurry so the extra weight of so many prizes would not tire him out. The prizes were not trinkets. Runners received dinners for two at local restaurants, free car rentals, running shoes, gym memberships, chiropractic visits, oil changes, and lots of free Jerry's Pizza.

I tried to lie to my fast running friends about this race to help keep my competition away but the telling smile on my face just urged them to show up and steal my first-year course age group record away. Everybody loves to come to a well-managed race. The course turns back on itself more than once and you pass by the finish area more than once. Yet, you couldn't get lost, as bright orange cones lined the streets and red arrows led the way through the parking area at mile two; the turns and out-and-backs let you see the competition. The convenient, abundant parking was a plus. The race begins a block away from the busy Milestone Plaza, but police and course marshals made it appear that the runners were alone on the roads. We love accurate and complete sets of mile markers.

The race starts up a mild incline, which is great because it means the finish will be down that same incline. The course was more challenging this year because the temperature was thirty degrees warmer. Still, though there are no flat spots on the course, it is a fast course. There are U-turns to slow the runners but they mostly flowed back into an immediate downhill. Mile three had a long hill, which helped runners decide whether they were serious or not. It was not a bad hill, though, in deference, I slowed on it.

Last year two area studs, course record holder Erik Kean (24:45) and Chris Banks (24:55), denied the race a hometown winner by pushing Benjamin Koch back to third place (25:09). Surprisingly, none of the top five runners returned from last year though they all ran times that would have produced cash awards this year. The top three men this year were all tall and lean. Olympic Marathon Trials runner Michael Wardian of Arlington, VA (photo left) established an early lead within a half-mile. His long hair flowing uncontained beneath his baseball cap is a regular sight as he strides off into the distance. The first mile contains a lot of downhill so the second pack was not too far behind in the first mile. Wardian continued to pull away and soon only Christopher Raabe of Bethesda, MD was within reasonable striking distance. Third place Eric Kweder of Woodbridge, VA was having an uncharacteristically slow day and faded back out of reach. Truly, the gifted runners only need a few meters to be out of reach.

Pre-race masters favorite Dan Lawson of Gaithersburg, MD (photo left, No. 12, approaching the 2-mile mark) looked sharp early on and could have easily challenged for the third money spot. He had run 34:33 at Pike's Peek 10K last month. But even a veteran has a tough day. Lawson caught a lip of the road and took a tumble, turning the race into a 28:34 "training run," still winning the 45-49 age group. Jean-Christophe Arcaz of Rockville, MD stepped up to win the 40-44 division in 28:21.

Teenager Paul Hugus (photo left, No. 331) ventured down from Baltimore, MD to finished fourth overall in 27:50. Dustin Sweeney of Berryville, MD had been the teen favorite for years in this area. Now twenty-one, he finished as the next male behind Hugus in 27:56. Fifth overall was a woman. The Russians are coming, the Russian are coming.

As with the men, last year's female winners did not return. It had been a battle between Ethiopian Atalelech Ketema, barely out of her teens, and local Naoke Ishibe. Ketema's winning time of 28:05 was a top ten finish overall. This year Victoria Klimina and Elena Orlova, Russians living and training in Gaithersburg, MD, blasted ahead in cone orange racing outfits. Both runners were under the course record as Klimina edged out her countrywoman 27:54 to 28:02 in the closet battle yet. Fourth place Jill Krebs of New Windsor, MD (photo left) stayed steady with third place Sharon Lemberger of Washington, DC until the very end, falling just thirty meters short.

The women did not have a top ace to win their masters division. In fact, last year there were no women over sixty in the race. Nationally ranked Sharon Dolan (62) decided to put a stop to that. As is her custom, she easily won her division and was the top masters female in a swift 36:37. Alice Franks of Rockville, MD moved from third masters division finisher to second while winning the 55-59 division in 37:37.

Other notable times include new senior runner Paul Peterson (50) running 29:38 (photo left, in background, running behind Brian Geary of Rockville (29:35)), Lou Shapiro (62) running 33:51, Jack McMahon (73) edging Robert Smith (70) 41:47 to 42:03, and of course prolific record holder and still going strong eighty-one-year-old Walt Washburn in 48:39.

Great food is not necessarily the best thing at a race but it sure is better than whatever is in second place. After I untied my ChampionChip, even before I stopped sweating trying to think up a reasonable excuse for my finishing time, I was legging it over to the food tent. They had given us a goodie bag at packet pickup. Now they gave us a fancy shopping bag with Frisbees, water bottles, and cup holders. That slowed me a little as the music drew me closer to the food. I was handed refreshing sports drinks and cold water, which helped to clear my palate after gorging on homemade cookies, cakes, and brownies, some individually bagged. Donuts were plentiful, both in quantity and quality. Last-minute cups of trail mix were supposed to replace bananas but they had the yellow sticks anyways. Bagels abounded and apples were there to be polished. Even as my eyes glazed over, my ears heard the sound of ice cream being scooped and I rushed to imbibe that frozen concoction that helps me hold on.

If it seems like I love this race, it is only because I do. If you miss this race next year; don't say I did not warn you. I will be there. I have run some classy races this year which have monster sponsorships and awards for their top runners. For my money, the Germantown 5-Miler, still just a medium-size race, is the number one race so far this year. Come out next year and see why for yourself.

Male Award Winners

Place Bib   Name                    Age City              Time
===== ===== ======================= == ================== ===== 
    1     4 Michael Wardian         30 Arlington VA       25:14 
    2   337 Christopher Raabe       25 N Bethesda MD      25:44 
    3   396 Eric Kweder             26 Woodbridge VA      26:34 


AGE GROUP:  01 - 14
    1   186 Alex Rosenberg          14 Gaithersburg MD    35:40 
    2   394 Jimmy Rozunas           09 Germantown MD      42:43 


AGE GROUP:  15 - 19
    1   331 Paul Hugus              19 Baltimore MD       27:50 
    2   327 Charlie Scott           17 Germantown MD      35:15 
    3   187 Benjamin Brown          19 Germantown MD      37:51 


AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1    50 Dustin Sweeney          21 Berryville VA      27:56 
    2   399 Paris Caballero         21 Germantown MD      28:16 
    3   204 Steve Majkrzak          24 Olney MD           28:49 


AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1   325 Eric Egenolf            25 Arlington VA       28:18 
    2   328 Stephen Ketcham         25 Lorton VA          28:27 
    3   298 Ronald Polcawich        28 Derwood MD         29:52 


AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   166 Bob Price               32 Rockville MD       30:43 
    2   132 Shawn Eastman           30 Germantown MD      31:06 
    3   381 Mario Marona            31 Gaithersburg MD    31:23 


AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   374 Brian Geary             36 Rockville MD       29:35 
    2    39 Craig Schultz           37 Bethesda MD        35:39 
    3   312 Mark Smith              37 Germantown MD      35:50 


AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   715 Jean-Christophe Arcaz   42 Rockville MD       28:21 
    2   297 Paul Jacobson           40 Gaithersburg MD    29:58 
    3    53 Albino Castro           44 Brookeville MD     30:58 


AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1    12 Dan Lawson              48 Gaithersburg MD    28:34 
    2   335 Bill Raabe              49 N Bethesda MD      29:42 
    3   380 George Buckheit         46 Herndon VA         31:15 


AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   257 Paul Peterson           50 Bethesda MD        29:38 
    2   296 Timothy Morgan          53 Damascus MD        30:43 
    3   379 Ken Umbarger            52 Gaithersburg MD    31:35 


AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1    44 Imants Celtnieks        59 Silver Spring MD   36:47 
    2   123 Steve Hayward           55 Poolesville MD     39:38 
    3    48 Jacques Kerrest         57 Mclean VA          41:00 


AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   280 Lou Shapiro             62 Silver Spring MD   33:51 
    2   155 Gregory Smith           60 Vienna VA          36:16 
    3   148 Matt Hutmaker           61 Gaithersburg MD    37:27 


AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1   300 Walter Rockey           65 Jefferson MD       39:09 
    2   213 Kenneth Kelley          65 Barnesville MD     44:12 
    3   455 Joseph Jaffa            68 Potomac MD         51:43 


AGE GROUP:  70 - 74
    1   154 Jack McMahon            73 Rockville MD       41:47 
    2    33 Robert Smith            70 Dickerson MD       42:03 
    3   174 Tom Brown               73 Potomac MD         44:55 


AGE GROUP:  75 - 99
    1    54 Walt Washburn           81 Vienna VA          48:39

Female Award Winners

Place Num   Name                    Ag City               Time  
===== ===== ======================= == ================== ===== 
    1     2 Victoria Klimina        28 Gaithersburg MD    27:54 
    2     8 Elena Orlova            25 Gaithersburg MD    28:02 
    3     5 Sharon Lemberger        30 Washington DC      29:09 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  01 - 14
    1    15 Halsey Sinclair         14 Silver Spring MD   33:34 
    2    17 Ashlyn Sinclair         14 Silver Spring MD   33:59 
    3   316 Amy Maier               14 Gaithersburg MD    38:47 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  15 - 19
    1   263 Natasha Young           19 Gaithersburg MD    35:29 
    2   241 Megan Huber             16 Rockville MD       37:17 
    3   289 Ashley Slack            17 Rockville MD       45:47 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  20 - 24
    1   370 Jill Krebs              23 New Windsor MD     29:19 
    2   319 Nadine Connell          24 College Park MD    38:07 
    3   313 Kristen Aversa          20 Woodbine MD        39:45 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  25 - 29
    1     7 Sharon Donovan          29 Washington DC      30:49 
    2     9 Lindsay Goulet          26 Arlington VA       31:15 
    3    10 Denise Cardamone        25 Washington DC      32:38 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  30 - 34
    1   321 Jennifer Bates          33 Arlington VA       36:39 
    2   165 Kimberly Thorpe         32 Rockville MD       36:47 
    3    49 Kristie Bistline        34 Harrisburg PA      38:45 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  35 - 39
    1   340 Elizabeth Feldman       36 Chevy Chase MD     31:37 
    2   120 Ellen Onderko           36 Poolesville MD     37:55 
    3   221 Barbara Munro           38 Germantown MD      40:30 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  40 - 44
    1   311 Eileen Haase            43 Rockville MD       38:39 
    2   112 Jacquie Johnson         42 Germantown MD      38:49 
    3   113 Maureen Casey           40 Poolesville MD     41:02 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  45 - 49
    1   322 Linnea Olsen            48 Alexandria VA      39:33 
    2   185 Marcia Rosenberg        48 Gaithersburg MD    43:14 
    3   310 Iris Madison            47 Gaithersburg MD    46:53 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  50 - 54
    1   105 Hiroko Smith            54 Vienna VA          43:12 
    2    43 Elizabeth Sadoff        54 Washington DC      45:06 
    3   245 Gussie Bouldin          53 Catonsville MD     46:59 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  55 - 59
    1    19 Alice Franks            56 Rockville MD       37:37 
    2   203 Catherine Van Brocklin  57 Gaithersburg MD    39:23 
    3    30 Joan Tapocik            56 Germantown MD      44:03 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  60 - 64
    1   351 Sharon Dolan            62 Gaithersburg MD    36:37 
    2   378 Jeanette Novak          60 Damascus MD        52:57 
    3    36 Blair Jones             60 Washington DC      53:47 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  65 - 69
    1    51 Jamie Wollard           66 Rockville MD       54:53 
    2   222 Lilli Metzger           68 Silver Spring MD   57:19 


FEMALE AGE GROUP:  70 - 74
    1    22 Lee Glassco             73 Mclean VA          61:37 

(Photo above: (l-r) Curtis Davis of Gaithersburg, Lindsay Goulet of Arlington, and George Buckheit of Herndon, coming in to the finish; Goulet was 6th overall among women.)

See complete results of the 2004 Germantown 5-Miler.

For more information about the Germantown 5-Miler, visit the race Web site.

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