St. Patrick's Day 2001 was cool, misty, and raw in downtown Washington, a perfect imitation of weather on the Emerald Isle itself, and a good omen for Irishman Edmund Burke, St. Patrick's Day 10K race champion in 1997 and '98.

But Philippe Rolly, a native of France and himself the race winner in 1999, enjoyed the fine racing conditions as well and broke away from Burke in the final mile to win in 30 minutes 48 seconds.

Alisa Harvey took the lead early in the women's race and won easily in 36:29. Hilary Cairns finished strongly and earned a personal best to finish second in 36:56.

But the real story was the huge turnout, a record for what has long been one of the most popular 10K races in the city. Nearly 5,000 registered, and 4,146 finished in the running community's celebration of the Green Holiday. And green it was on the course, with hats, shamrocks, and even green hair adorning many of the throng.

The race started at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Old Post Office Pavilion. For the first time, the race took place on Saturday as part of a compromise with the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, which has complained about road closures. Next year, the race will be held on Sunday--St. Patrick's Day again, oddly enough.

"We're really pleased," said Capital Running Company president Rick Freedman. "We were concerned about the Saturday race date, but the word got out. Moreover, the weather held and we've got a great turnout. The luck o' the Irish!"

In the racing department, Rolly and Burke ran with a pack of twelve runners through the first two miles, which they covered in a comfortable 10:10. But some fifty meters ahead, apparently running to a beat no one else could hear, was Jason Van Horn from Dumfries.

"I was surprised to be all alone at two miles," Van Horn said. "But I wanted to run five-minute pace."

And he did, to the unconcern of the pack. "I wasn't too worried about him," Rolly said. "I had my eyes on the guys in my group, mostly Edmund and [Ray] Pugsley."

By halfway, the pack caught Van Horn, who ultimately finished ninth. Then Rolly, Burke, Pugsley, and former Princeton distance runner Erik Kean pulled away. At four miles, Rolly dropped the pace to 4:45 and dropped all but Burke, who finally faded in the last mile and finished second in 31:03.

"I felt really easy the last two miles," Rolly said. "I'm pleased to win, since it's so early in the year and I'm coming off an injury so I haven't been training very long."

Kean finished third in 31:14, and Pugsley, the Enclave's most prolific roadracer, finished a disappointing fifth in 31:40.

Harvey, long a stalwart on the area roads, said she had no real problems in adding another win to her running resume: "I felt pretty bad the last mile, so that means I was pushing it. And that's good."

Harvey (35) has been volunteering as an assistant track coach at George Mason. But after nearly 20 years of track racing for herself, including national rankings at 800 and 1,500 meters, she said she has no further track plans. "I'm retired from that stuff," she said.

Cairns was pleased with her second-place personal-best effort, even though she sprinted past her training partner, Sharon Servidio, in the home stretch.

"I wanted to say, 'Sorry,' when I went by," Cairns said. But Cairns waited until they were both in the chute to offer apologies. Servidio finished third, eight seconds behind Cairns, in 37:06.

"It was okay," Servidio said. "She [Cairns] ran a good race."

After the race, runners gathered in the Old Post Office Pavilion for some eats, cold beer, and Irish dancing while awaiting the start of the awards ceremony.

Notes: Donna Moore (40) was fourth overall and first among the masters in 37:20. She also finished fourth in 2000, but was 50 seconds faster this year. Beth McCann (41) from Falls Church was the second master, ninth overall, in 40:03 and Linda Wack (45) from Germantown, was right behind in 40:12.

Among the men's masters, I won (I so enjoy writing that) in an old-man's time of 32:18. Joe Abernethy, 41, from Berwyn, was the second old guy in 33:23. Chuck Moeser, from Sterling, at 49 a really old guy, ran 33:36 for third, and seventeenth overall.

Other notable performances included Paul Ryan (50) who finished 31st in 35:44, Pat Griffith (56) from Alexandria, 78th in 37:59, and Sandra Adams (51) from Winchester, 21st in 42:15.

Montgomery County Road Runners cover boy Marty Horan (41) took 29th in 35:41. Anthony Arena (16) was the youngest finisher among the top fifty (47th in 36:26). Hayley Wynn (17) from Silver Spring, was the youngest woman in the top fifty; she was 46th in 44:15.

Sister Maria was the last official finisher, 1,985th among the women and 4,146th overall, in 1:48:18 (1:50:34 gun time). Thirty- six runners started but didn't finish. Keep an eye out for them . . . .

Results of the 2001 race: Men, Women.