By James Moreland
Leesburg, VA
January 1, 2012
For the Washington Running Report
Truth be told, of all the races held on the turn-of-the-year weekend, this one offers the most adventure. Through the years, the wacky weather has been anything from a warm but heavy rain to a blistering cold wind chill where hiding on the down side of one of its many hills is actually a plus. Or perhaps we could have a storm of the century as we did at the start of 2010 where no one even dreamed of trying to leave the house. The voting is in and this year’s sunny, windless day with close to sixty degrees of warmth has been chosen for the race’s official weather.
December had been mild but when the sun continued to shine on the New Year many people still had time to head down to Ida Lee Park and sign up for the 10K that started at 10:40 or the 4K fun run that started twenty minutes before that. The 4K was an untimed event but when the race announcer started the event, about 400 happy people bounded down and across the opening field. Most of them looked as if they were going for a fast time. As is custom when the 10K starts, runners will begin meeting returning 4K runners near the bottom of the ¼ mile hill. This year the start was rushed so we could get going before the 4K winner (and he did receive an award) crossed the starting line.
Runners were advised that the course was still a little damp and with the warmer weather the way would be soggy. The course, however, was very solid . . . for a cross country course. After bounding down the hill runners briefly take a road toward the first of many hills. The tree-lined country road is just dirt but the footing was not bad. Just before the second mile runners crisscross between the farm buildings at the crest of the hill. From there, runners snake down the long hill to the bottom of the course. Then, joy of joys, they added gravel to the paved roads and the climb back up to mile four was made without ever looking up. The crews at the water stops cheered us on, perhaps amazed that we made it to the top. The day was so wonderful. Many of the runners come year after year, not for fast times but to enjoy a fun course to start the year.
Course record holder Abiyot Endale (32:24 – 2011) which he pilfered from runner-up Aaron Church who produced the event’s fourth fastest time (33:05 – 2011), were absent. Matt Maline (above) had been third in a swift 33:55. This year, with no one to chase and a light challenge behind him, he coasted to victory in 35:02. William Bylund finished the final climb a little more than a minute later in 36:27. Matt Woods produced the third place time in 36:54. Most runners are at least two minutes slower than on a road 10K.
Kevin Lynch (left) was top master last year in 39:01. This year he aged up to the 45-49 division and won again, this time in 39:36. Grandmaster Bruce Halpin, 55, ran 41:50 last year which would have been nifty this year as William Clem, 52, was tenth overall in 41:52. Alas, he ran 42:02. Still, with generous five year age groups both runners went home with first place awards.
Malcolm Senior, 61, proudly set the event age group record with 42:42 last year. This year he again coasted to victory by a mile.
Bill Stahr, 51, ran five races for the holiday weekend for 146 races in 2011 and three already for the New Year.
For more than a year Bill Joyce, 67, has been not been racing. He comes out to the races looking on longingly. Today he renewed his racing with a very solid 49:23. He modestly started 16 seconds behind the leaders. When told, “He’s back!” he demurred with, “Well, not yet.” Later that evening I spoke with Ronnie Wong, 65, and advised him that he would be looking over his shoulder very soon. He had already seen the results as well as the last two 5Ks run by Jason Page, 66, another returning champion. Last year John Elliott, 73, was disappointed by his 50:34 even though it was an event record. This is not a fast course. Doug Morris, 73, (below) was not far behind in 52:30. This year Morris rambled home in 52:23 but his net time was 51:04.Doug, you are an elite runner who belongs at the front of the starting line.
Many racers ran more than one race on this weekend, perhaps it is easier when the races start later in the day. Six of the top ten women were forty or older. Heather Schaffer, 40, of Potomac falls, VA (left) led the way in 44:26. Young Zanny Ludtke, 18, was next in 45:45, followed quickly by four runners from Leesburg. Mandana Mortazavi, 48, took third place with a gun time of 46:38. She had the closet time toward a new age group record. (46:30).Mandana, you must also start closer to the front (net time of 46:32). After all you did when you were fourth overall at the Running in Hope 10K just the day before in 43:05.
Karen Young, 43, also had five races for the weekend for 144 races for 2011. She raced her 49th 10K in the morning of the 31st. Sunday morning she proudly announced, “I got my Blank last night.” The Blank is an award given to runners in the 50 Plus club who race 50 or more races in a single distance. Naturally she started the year up again with a 10K in the morning followed by a 5K in the afternoon on Sunday. “Toward the end I looked up ahead of me and saw a lot of people walking. I didn’t think I was going that slow,” said Young after the race. Young is often a Ranked Runner.
Jacqui Hanson, 41, also needed to start closer to the front. She finished top in her division with 46:41 but started twenty seconds behind the leaders. Tenth place Carole Jones, 54 (below), was top grandmaster in 48:37. Next year when she turns fifty-five she might just speed past the event record of 50:23 set by Heather Sanders in 2011.
At the awards ceremony, 75-year-old Patricia Cuff was tops in her division. The awards were announced old to young. When we got to the 45-49 age group, there was another Patricia Cuff (junior?). Yes, she was the daughter. Running is for families. Ecris Williams, 71, did not make the race for the first time in the 14 runnings of the event. She still hold records in three divisions.
Before and after the race Dave Berry, who travels up from South Carolina each year, was entertaining the crowd with his music, much of it from the sixties and seventies. The youngsters enjoyed his oldest song, the Hokey Pokey.
The joy of this event is that when you finish there are rows of chairs in a heated auditorium with indoor plumbing. There was plenty of bottled water and lots of hot coffee and cocoa. Bagels with cream cheese as well as bananas are laudable runners’ foods. Even better was the scores and scores of fresh baked giant cookies from Vie de France.
Always your fastest race of the year and for most the best.
Awards Listing - Men
MALE
Place Num Name Ag City Finish
===== ===== ====================== == ===================== =====
1 483 Matt Maline 28 Oak Hill VA 35:02
2 347 William Bylund 27 Great Falls VA 36:27
3 367 Matt Woods 32 Falls Church VA 36:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
1 268 Steven Kool 17 Vienna VA 40:56
2 398 Devon Kirk 16 Purcellville VA 43:13
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 382 Andrew Knotts 20 Martinsburg WV 37:42
2 414 Andrew Castles 20 Gainesville VA 47:19
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 58 Eric Hammesfahr 26 Leesburg VA 47:10
2 356 John Heydon 26 Frederick MD 47:46
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 68 Adam Borbidge 33 South Riding VA 38:40
2 281 Nate Verwys 34 Fairfax VA 43:07
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 442 Aaron Holley 36 Washington DC 38:42
2 464 Marty Newhouse 39 Falls Church VA 44:25
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 44 Kenneth Shapiro 42 Frederick MD 39:55
2 379 Lawrence Kusko 42 Stephen's City VA 42:49
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 421 Kevin Lynch 45 Chantilly VA 39:36
2 304 James Darling 47 Falls Church VA 42:54
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 28 William Clem 52 Bethesda MD 41:51
2 334 James Dunn 51 Leesburg VA 44:45
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 428 Bruce Halpin 55 Ashburn VA 42:00
2 297 Richard Morgan 59 Silver Spring MD 43:31
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 88 Malcolm Senior 61 New Market MD 44:24
2 232 Richard Cleland 62 Leesburg VA 51:34
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 377 Bill Joyce 67 Herndon VA 49:07
2 303 Jack Tozier 69 Arlington VA 55:03
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 83 Douglas Morris 73 Delaplane VA 51:04
2 49 Louis Garczynski 71 Sterling VA 63:12
MALE LEESBURG RESIDENT
1 198 Chris Stotler 44 Leesburg VA 43:16
MALE ROTARIAN RESIDENT
1 472 Thomas Dunlap 39 Round Hill VA 51:19
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 217 Jarrod Dungan 31 M Leesburg VA 44:35
Awards Listing - Women
FEMALE
Place Num Name Ag City Finish
===== ===== ====================== == ==================== =====
1 369 Heather Schaffer 40 Potomac Falls VA 44:26
2 184 Zanny Ludtke 18 Round Hill VA 45:45
3 327 Mandana Mortazavi 48 Leesburg VA 46:38
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 01 - 19
1 251 Catherine Gorick 18 Broadlands VA 52:43
2 123 Shannon McClellan 17 Boonsboro MD 57:57
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 20 - 24
1 56 Erika Hansen 20 Oakton VA 48:27
2 393 Julia Crowley 20 Waterford VA 53:11
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 25 - 29
1 183 Cassie Ludtke 27 Round Hill VA 55:45
2 432 Tara Larrick 27 Stephen's City VA 59:10
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 30 - 34
1 438 Sharon Logue 33 Leesburg VA 46:47
2 489 Kathryn Dunn 31 Purcellville VA 47:46
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 35 - 39
1 308 Tiffany Graham 36 Reston VA 49:01
2 203 Alison Smith 37 Leesburg VA 49:58
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 40 - 44
1 325 Jacqui Hanson 41 Leesburg VA 46:21
2 392 Lydia Pelliccia 44 Washington DC 47:24
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 45 - 49
1 31 Tonya Stotler 45 Leesburg VA 46:52
2 279 Patricia Cuff 47 Alexandria VA 48:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 50 - 54
1 201 Carole Jones 54 Ashburn VA 48:31
2 364 Kelly Pickard 52 Oyster Bay NY 50:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 55 - 59
1 95 Peggy Davis 59 Vienna VA 55:28
2 299 Maria Nusbaum 59 Reston VA 58:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 60 - 64
1 162 Freyda Greenberg 62 Falls Church VA 60:07
2 239 Patricia Danielle-Kay 60 Reston VA 64:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 65 - 69
1 234 Pat Welch 67 Vienna VA 62:37
2 418 Punkin Lee 65 Middleburg VA 66:50
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME 70 - 99
1 291 Patricia Cuff 75 Montgomery Vill MD 76:29
FEMALE LEESBURG RESIDENT
1 325 Jacqui Hanson 41 Leesburg VA 46:21
FEMALE ROTARIAN RESIDENT
1 403 Sharen Gromly 58 Winchester VA 80:30
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 176 Linda Reynolds 49 F Leesburg VA 62:34
By Dickson Mercer
Washington, DC
December 11, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
It only took the Jingle All the Way 10K six years to outgrow its out-and-back course in Washington, DC’s West Potomac Park. This year, with more than 6,000 registered runners, Capital Running Company moved the race downtown to the same venue that hosts its annual St. Patrick’s Day 8K. The new 8K, which starts on Pennsylvania Avenue and, as with Occupy DC, is staged at Freedom Plaza, was held in cold, yet calm conditions that probably seemed perfect to those who braved last year’s cold drizzle.
If you are wondering how a road race typically held on a frigid day has become such a popular race, look no further than the costumes. At the Jingle All the Way 8K, Santa got the top-seeded number and knee-high candy cane socks paired with elf caps were the opposite of an exception. Today’s oddballs were ever-serious front-runners wearing their usual racing kits.
On the other hand, Claire Hallissey, who won today’s race in 29:18 while sporting candy cane socks, antlers, and the race’s complimentary bells in the laces of her racing flats, is only seriously fast.
Hallissey also sported a pink stripe of KT tape on her leg to aid an aching knee that has lately limited her training. Injuries have bothered the 28-year-old Arlington resident and England native all year. And while they did not stop her from running 2:29:27 in October at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon – the time put her 6th overall and made her eligible to run for England in the 2012 Olympics – it has yet to fully heal from the effort.
Treating today’s race like a tempo run, Hallissey ran purely for enjoyment and to give her knee a bit of a test. She won last year’s Jingle All the Way 10K in 35:17.
If all goes according to Hallissey’s hopes, England’s third and final selection for the Olympic Marathon will be her. In the meantime, a good Christmas-themed costume helped her maintain a low-key race day. “It keeps me from going crazy out there,” she said.
Barb Fallon Wallace, 38, of Alexandria was second in 29:50. Nikeya Green, 29, of Centreville, VA was third in 30:21. The top master, Alisa Harvey of Manassas, VA, was fifth overall in 30:52.
Shortly before the 9:00 a.m. start time, race organizers announced that the Metropolitan Police Department had requested a 10 to 15 minute delay. At 9:22, runners cheered when it was announced that the race would start in two minutes.
The delay did not seem to affect Michael Banks, 25, of Washington, DC Early on, the men’s distance coach at Georgetown University ran smoothly with a front pack that included Temesgen Ilanso, 24, of Silver Spring, Brian Flynn, 28, of Bridgewater, VA, Seife Geletu, 29, of Washington, DC, and Esmetu Tilahun, 31, of Washington, DC.
After coasting through 3 miles in around 15:30, Banks gradually picked up the pace, accelerating ahead of Ilanso on the final turn to win by 8 seconds in 24:45. The former all-American at Georgetown focused on triathlons after graduating in 2009. Recently his focus has shifted back to running.
Flynn was third in 25:02. The top master, Kevin Lynch of Chantilly, VA, ran 29:32.
There were plenty of other ways to take home a prize. All it took to be eligible for a random prize – a heart rate monitor, say – was to submit your race number into a random drawing.
Of the 64 teams entered in the team competition, names ranged from the winning Georgetown University Running Club, which took top honors, to Egg Kissers and Grandma Got Run Over … By Us. Georgetown’s co-ed squad averaged 30:22, topping Capital Area Runners’ 13-member average of 31:10.
At the post-race ceremony at Freedom Plaza, some Jingle All the Way teams – some official, some not official – learned that the competition for Best Costume was as tough as any other.
While standing in line for pictures with Santa, Daphne Kiplinger, 26, and David Shepard, 34, both of Washington, DC, and Dave Steadman – all wearing some sort of red and green, Christmas-themed getup – explained that they had tried to put a team together but their friends had bailed at the last moment. As for the stylish green, holly leaf-style sunglasses that made her outfit pop, Kiplinger said she got those in her Christmas stocking last year.
If you have ever wondered what it is like to run in a Santa suit, let Mike McNiff, 23, of Fairfax tell you: “It was a little hot,” he said. His Santa’s Run Deer team included his sister Katie McNiff plus Tiona Bland, Amanda Hamilton, and Kelly Jamieson. The women wore antlers picked up from a dollar store and wrote their deer names on pieces of paper they taped to their backs. Rather than stay around for the best costume content, the group headed off for brunch.
The team who won for best costume did not mention a team name. They did, however, mention a captain: Libby Wile, 29, of Washington, DC. Their group included Ashley Schambach, Amy Levine, Ellen Taverna, and Katie Robbins. Present among them were a present, a nutcracker, and a dreidel.
Moments before all runners dispersed, two toy soldiers (Terri Crutchman and Ginger Kopecky, both of Woodbridge) posed for a photograph with as many Christmas trees (Jessica Connelly and Abigail Op, both of Washington, DC.)
“We wanted something to run in that would look festive for the holidays,” Crutchman said. “What better than toy soldiers to wake us up and run?”
For Connelly and Op, though, costumes are becoming the norm. Op, who has run marathons, recently roped her friend into running her first race on Thanksgiving. For that, they dressed as Pilgrims. For the Hot Chocolate 15K, they went with a 1980s theme.
According to Op, “This is just more fun: being a goofball.”
Awards Listing
MALE
1 4910 Michael Banks 25 M WASHINGTON DC 24:45
2 5346 Temesgen Ilanso 24 M SILVER SPRING MD 24:53
3 5202 Brian Flynn 28 M BRIDGEWATER VA 25:02
4 5374 Seife Geletu 29 M WASHINGTON DC 25:42
5 5 Dickson Mercer 30 M WASHINGTON DC 26:18
6 5381 Esmetu Tilahun 31 M WASHINGTON DC 26:37
7 4665 Tom Dichiara 34 M NEW YORK NY 26:46
8 3 Stephan Kolata 30 M WASHINGTON DC 26:56
9 4860 Matthew Thomas 37 M ALEXANDRIA VA 27:20
10 3735 Dan Herman 27 M WASHINGTON DC 27:23
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 01 - 19
1 719 Justin Ahalt 17 M College Park MD 27:54 27:54 5:37
2 2989 Alexander Waldt 18 M Baltimore MD 28:25 28:25 5:43
3 5039 Matt Chung 19 M Bloomfield Hills MI 29:51 29:43 5:59
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 20 - 24
1 5038 Jordan Megna 21 M Bloomfield Hills MI 29:31 29:23 5:55
2 5213 Alexander Sciacca 20 M Fairfax Station VA 29:38 29:32 5:57
3 5034 Tim Doughtery 20 M Bloomfield Hills MI 30:44 30:35 6:09
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 25 - 29
1 721 Alec Friedhoff 27 M Washington DC 28:21 28:20 5:42
2 1624 Barry McCarron 29 M Washington DC 28:36 28:35 5:45
3 3644 Sean Wilson 25 M Sterling VA 29:42 29:39 5:58
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 30 - 34
1 1497 Kevin Foley 32 M Bethesda MD 28:46 28:45 5:47
2 4044 James Du Vernay 31 M East Rutherford NJ 29:24 29:22 5:55
3 2527 Monte Hawkins 34 M Arlington VA 29:54 29:52 6:01
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 35 - 39
1 4808 Keith Freeburn 37 M Centreville VA 28:11 28:11 5:41
2 1086 Marc McDonald 38 M Alexandria VA 28:13 28:12 5:41
3 2977 Brian Beary 36 M Washington DC 28:57 28:56 5:50
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 40 - 44
1 4311 Jose Diaz 40 M Bethesda MD 30:01 29:59 6:02
2 3121 Chris McKee 43 M Vienna VA 30:53 30:51 6:13
3 2118 David Venables 44 M Bethesda MD 31:18 31:12 6:17
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 45 - 49
1 3115 Kevin Lynch 45 M Chantilly VA 29:32 29:31 5:57
2 2903 George Lane 45 M Ashburn VA 30:22 30:21 6:07
3 3528 Howard Frost 46 M Falls Church VA 30:30 30:28 6:08
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 50 - 54
1 23 Jean-Christophe Arcaz 50 M Rockville MD 28:44 28:43 5:47
2 863 Paul Ingholt 51 M Vienna VA 33:12 33:08 6:40
3 5111 Wiliam Coquelin 52 M Alexandria VA 33:53 33:45 6:48
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 55 - 59
1 3535 Dave Buzzell 57 M Middletown MD 32:36 32:34 6:33
2 1088 Lennie Carter 58 M Washington DC 33:45 33:43 6:47
3 4664 John McMackin 59 M Chevy Chase MD 36:15 35:58 7:15
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 60 - 64
1 21 Malcolm Senior 60 M New Market MD 32:41 32:39 6:34
2 1012 Robert Taylor 61 M Alexandria VA 37:14 36:59 7:27
3 2121 Charles Divan 61 M Washington DC 39:10 39:07 7:52
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 65 - 69
1 2731 Jim Noone 67 M Fairfax VA 34:09 34:05 6:52
2 5532 Bob Chase 66 M Falls Church VA 35:58 35:53 7:13
3 5390 John Sullivan 66 M Washington DC 42:56 39:59 8:03
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 70 - 74
1 25 Gerry Ives 72 M Washington DC 36:25 36:22 7:19
2 28 Chan Robbins 74 M Arlington VA 40:45 40:42 8:12
3 1228 John Gluck 74 M Alexandria VA 41:15 41:10 8:17
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 75 - 79
1 491 Alan Rider 75 M Reston VA 44:29 44:27 8:57
MALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 80 - 99
1 59 Edward Green 80 M Washington DC 68:54 65:39 13:13
MALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 3622 Brad Serwer 38 M Bethesda MD 29:22 29:20 5:54
FEMALE
1 2 Claire Hallissey 28 F ARLINGTON VA 29:18
2 9 Barb Fallon Wallace 38 F ALEXANDRIA VA 29:50
3 4577 Nikeya Green 29 F CENTREVILLE VA 30:21
4 6 Kelly Swain 26 F ARLINGTON VA 30:35
5 12 Alisa Harvey 46 F MANASSAS VA 30:52
6 3585 Elizabeth Laseter 23 F WASHINGTON DC 31:03
7 2491 Emily Buzzell 26 F WASHINGTON DC 31:15
8 3760 Mijiko Phelps 41 F OAK HILL VA 31:54
9 625 Cristina Burbach 37 F WASHINGTON DC 31:55
10 5694 Laura Zeilinger 39 F WASHINGTON DC 32:16
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 01 - 19
1 5045 Clare Murphy 18 F Bloomfield Hills MI 32:31 32:23 6:31
2 3310 Katriona McNeill 14 F Chevy Chase MD 36:05 35:53 7:13
3 5042 Elyssa Skeirik 18 F Bloomfield Hills MI 37:29 37:20 7:31
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 20 - 24
1 2183 Danielle Schaub 24 F Washington DC 37:54 33:17 6:42
2 4033 Monique Girard 21 F Billerica MA 33:33 33:23 6:43
3 324 Jessica Girard 23 F Washington DC 33:38 33:27 6:44
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 25 - 29
1 1988 Phoebe Markle 27 F Alexandria VA 32:33 32:30 6:33
2 420 Alison Deboer 25 F Arlington VA 33:01 32:58 6:38
3 1698 Caitlin Catella 26 F Washington DC 33:26 33:21 6:43
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 30 - 34
1 5612 Jen Yip 31 F Washington DC 32:32 32:23 6:31
2 4061 Rebecca Powell 34 F Alexandria VA 34:48 34:42 6:59
3 716 Lindsay Hauer 31 F Washington DC 35:34 35:29 7:09
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 35 - 39
1 5367 Jen Sober 38 F McHenry MD 32:26 32:25 6:32
2 494 Nancy Eiring 38 F Washington DC 32:46 32:43 6:35
3 4077 Julie Sapper 38 F Rockville MD 34:16 34:12 6:53
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 40 - 44
1 3946 Samantha Cole 43 F Arlington VA 32:36 32:34 6:33
2 4891 Anne Bliss 44 F Burlington VT 33:04 33:02 6:39
3 3402 Sandrine Falgon 40 F Washington DC 33:19 33:18 6:42
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 45 - 49
1 570 Karen Kalber 46 F Crofton MD 36:02 35:41 7:11
2 833 Teresa Lent 49 F Arlington VA 36:12 36:02 7:15
3 2240 Joanna Schmickel 49 F Arlington VA 37:35 37:11 7:29
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 50 - 54
1 4743 Deedee Loughran 53 F Herndon VA 33:20 33:17 6:42
2 22 Win Persina 51 F Washington DC 34:59 34:56 7:02
3 5151 Linda Rotunno 52 F Washington DC 38:23 38:03 7:40
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 55 - 59
1 2912 Ofelia Perotti 55 F Alexandria VA 39:11 38:45 7:48
2 733 Merrilee Seidman 57 F Alexandria VA 41:01 41:01 8:15
3 520 Marcy Foster 57 F Reston VA 45:59 41:09 8:17
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 60 - 64
1 2971 Ginny Hughes 61 F Warrenton VA 38:34 38:33 7:46
2 1786 Jane Sparnon 60 F Arlington VA 42:52 42:38 8:35
3 3974 Mary Fredlake 61 F Washington DC 51:30 45:20 9:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 65 - 69
1 5638 Linda Kearney 65 F Oak Hill VA 44:35 42:52 8:38
2 3090 Pat Welch 67 F Vienna VA 49:31 47:47 9:37
3 1581 Nancy Malan 66 F Washington DC 53:44 53:25 10:45
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 70 - 74
1 5232 Helenann Phillips 74 F Arlington VA 56:40 53:27 10:46
2 2679 Susan McGregor 70 F Washington DC 77:57 71:45 14:26
FEMALE AGE GROUP: NET TIME - NET PACE 75 - 79
1 5112 Ann Coquelin 77 F Alexandria VA 61:57 57:31 11:35
FEMALE FIRST TIME RACER: NET TIME - NET PACE 1 - 99
1 4033 Monique Girard 21 F Billerica MA 33:33 33:23 6:43
By James Moreland
Burke, VA
November 26, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
No times for brakes as the race starts at the top of the hill.
The glorious weather continues to reign (not rain) throughout the busiest weekend of the year. Many runners took a break from the busiest racing day of the year to eat dinner and go out shopping. Friday seemed like Sunday. Then Saturday was almost perfect. Locals even thought it was almost too warm, while a few slender Caribbean transplants announced that anything colder than 70 degrees was too cold.
The sun was already warming up the day as runners lined up just above Burke Lake and released by the magic ‘G’ word plunged down the fast first half mile. From there the course circled around the lake like a necklace with only a few gentle hills. The weather had been dry but not enough to make the gentle layer of leaves crackle. Some of the lead runners played traffic cop and warned unsuspecting hikers that an avalanche of runners would soon be heading their way. Everyone wanted to be out on this day.
Many of the Thanksgiving weekend races are called fun runs as nearly 10% of all the racers for the year come out to play. Still, lots of the top racers are eager to try out their stuff. Early in the race Keith Freeburn, 37, took over the lead duties. Freeburn has been coming on strong for the last year though rarely at the very front of the pack. He knew Rob Bell, 22, was right there with him and that helped propel both of them to very solid times, especially for a course that is half cross country. Right at four miles the runners headed up a steady incline and Bell made his move. The final half mile is mostly a quick downhill but the final 100 meters is the steepest hill on the course. Bell held on to win in 28:42; Freeburn was next in 28:48.
Usually youngsters do best on cross country and, being generally lighter, fly up hills better. Today six of the top 13 men were masters. Fifth place Kevin Lynch, 44, (right)was earliest the top master in 30:06. David Pinnick, 55, commanded the grandmaster field, finishing 20th overall in a swift 33:47.
Looking around the field Laura Ramos, 32, (left) must have felt like the favorite. However, this is a traveling weekend and you never know when a ringer is going to come into town. Olivia Poblacion, 25 of Corvallis, OR came in from the west coast to set the new standard for the event in an excellent 30:59 that made her the eight finisher overall. Ramos followed her in with a very nice 32:42. Before the race Sushila Nanda, 50, smiled and said yes her leg was still bothering her but she had a few more races that she wanted to do before she would fix it. She blasted out with the lead women covering the first mile in about 6:30. After that she settled in some but still had a very nifty 37:14 to finish as the second master and the first runner older than fifty, Cathy Ross was the first master at fourth overall in 34:26. The grandmaster and 20th overall was Janet Janas. Janas is coming off her first WRR Runner Ranking in the fall season.
After the race there were bagels and bananas to go with gallons and gallons of hot coffee with real cream and bottled water. One runner said as he offered his young daughter a cinnamon raisin bagel, “I ran in the race; you eat the food.”
OVERALL MALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 212 Rob Bell 22 Gainesville VA 28:42
2 211 Keith Freeburn 37 Centreville VA 28:48
3 232 Adam Roggia 26 Stafford VA 29:47
OVERALL FEMALE (GUN TIME)
Place Num Name Age City Time
===== ===== =================== === ===================== =======
1 109 Olivia Poblacion 25 Corvallis OR 30:59
2 265 Laura Ramos 32 Silver Spring MD 32:42
3 206 Leah Stiegler 21 Vienna VA 33:32
MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 297 Steven Kool 17 Vienna VA 31:11
2 267 Joe Brough 16 McLean VA 31:25
3 328 Steven Harokopus 15 Vienna VA 36:30
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 19 (NET TIME)
1 319 Tara Landy 18 Burke VA 35:06
2 89 Kayla Grimmett 18 Burke VA 37:02
3 249 Mary Pollin 15 Burke VA 37:16
MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 207 Jason Dods 22 Vienna VA 33:05
2 55 Alec Rosenman 23 Fairfax Station VA 34:25
3 54 Mark Brier 26 Wilmington DE 35:33
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 (NET TIME)
1 170 Emily Williams 29 Arlington VA 38:47
2 53 Lauren Rosenman 25 Fairfax Station VA 38:49
3 163 Heather Hunter 25 Fairfax VA 40:47
MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 85 Michael Feeney 34 Burke VA 29:59
2 359 Frank Gold 34 Warrenton VA 30:28
3 345 Oscar Tiglao 34 Lorton VA 31:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 (NET TIME)
1 397 Laura Barringer 35 Fairfax VA 38:41
2 269 Mary Blair 32 Springfield VA 39:08
3 281 Romana Johnson 37 Dumfries VA 39:22
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 331 Kevin Lynch 44 Chantilly VA 30:04
2 30 Dennis Billings 42 Woodbridge VA 30:54
3 322 Matt Anderson 45 Fairfax VA 31:04
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 (NET TIME)
1 73 Cathy Ross 40 Burke VA 34:25
2 136 Barbara Murillo 46 Fairfax VA 39:20
3 338 Mary Maver 46 Springfield VA 39:57
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 370 David Pinnick 55 Manassas VA 33:44
2 233 Myron Kremer 54 Winchester VA 36:09
3 80 Malcolm Carlyle 54 Leesburg VA 36:17
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 (NET TIME)
1 324 Sushila Nanda 50 Arlington VA 37:13
2 155 Janet Janas 50 Clifton VA 41:04
3 61 Cynthia Martin 54 Springfield VA 41:13
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 35 Robert Taylor 61 Alexandria VA 38:11
2 364 Jim Avila 63 Arlington VA 42:12
3 246 Rick Rice 65 Burke VA 43:56
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 69 (NET TIME)
1 263 Carolyn Rice 66 Burke VA 45:18
2 259 Kathryn Fanelli 62 Annandale VA 1:00:39
3 4 Nancie Becker 61 Rockville MD 1:16:59
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99 (NET TIME)
1 10 Chan Robbins 74 Arlington VA 40:58
2 111 Robert Gurtler 76 The Plains VA 53:01
3 226 Dick Nanto 70 Clifton VA 1:01:11
The final climb to the finish was no “walk in the park.”
