Reindeer Run and Romp 5K
Race Results: We are coming into the cold, slow season of running, but there are a few races still occurring. At the Reindeer Run and Romp 5K in Newark last Friday evening age group awards were won by Tom Jermyn, Tom Steenkamer, Dan Simmons, Jim Durkin and April Hubbard. It’s great to see that April was able to participate in this event.
Tom Steenkamer ran 17:34, which, I believe, is a PR. Tom is at that magical time in his running life when PRs seem to come with almost every succeeding race.
Rehoboth Seashore Marathon or Half-Marathon
Rehoboth Seashore Marathon results:
3:12:51 Adam Shilling, Boston Qualifier and Person Best
3:22:09 Dirk Sweigart, BQ and 4th 50-54
3:55:37 Mark Holliday
3:56:56 Mary Holliday BQ and 2nd 55-59
Rehoboth Seashore Half-Marathon results:
1:16:17 Josh Loren, 1st 30-34 and 2nd Overall
1:21:57 Tom Jermyn, 1st 45-49 and 5th OA
1:30:56 Lee Kauffman, 2nd 50-54
1:33:10 Karl Kalbacher, 2nd 45-49
1:36:35 Wes Stafford
1:39:20 Rich Szymanski
1:48:42 Jim Steele
1:53:21 Claire Neilan
1:53:39 Paul Schweizer
2:00:19 Jordan Fridman
2:00:21 Tricia Szymanski
2:05:51 Ray Feehery
Due to injuries Racheel and mother Gail Bleacher and Paula Jermyn, who was training for her first half-marathon, were unable to participate.
Club vice-president Claire Neilan presented a check for $250 on behalf of Pike Creek Valley Running Club to Dana Casanave, who has been running marathons every week since January 24 to raise money for orphans of women who had AIDS in South Africa. Her original quest was to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks, but since she has run two marathons in one weekend three times, Rehoboth will be her 50th marathon and she may run 55 before she finishes on Jan. 15.
I first became aware of Dana when she passed me in the B & A Marathon in March, with a sign pinned to her back about her quest and her website (http://www.52beginnings.com/). I’ve since seen her at four other marathons, the latest being the Northern Central Trail Marathon, in which she again passed me late in the race and finished a couple minutes faster. Of course, I didn’t immediately get on a plane, fly to Florida, and run the Space Coast Marathon the next day as she did.
I have followed her blog all year. After running a 4:06 at B & A, her times slowed, sometimes to over five hours, as the weather warmed up and I thought all the marathoning was going to injure her. But as the weather cooled, her times started to improve. She ran a 4:03 at Fox City. Then in October, she started doubling up. I want to know how she has adapted to being able to do this and, during the Northern Central race, I commented that she ought to write a book since her blog is well-written, moving, and entertaining.
Anyway, I suggested to the board that the charity she is running for be one of the ones that we give a donation to this year. I’m glad the board agreed. I have never seen anyone before dedicate so much running to such a compassionate cause. Dana is a role model for others to emulate.
Registration Alert
On-line registration for the Annapolis 10 Mile Run, which always sells out very quickly, will open one month earlier next year on May 1, instead of June 1. The date is the last Sunday of August (28th). The registration link will be here http://annapolisstriders.org/ when registration opens
Politics in Running
I know most of us use running as an escape from some of the nasty issues reality throws at us. Running is pure, simple, straight forward. What can politics possibly have to do with it? Unfortunately, when it comes to elite competition, quite a bit! Please check out this article posted by the founder of marathonguide.com about the shameful ruling by USATF that American citizens can’t compete in USA championship races unless they have been citizens for a full two years. This is plain discrimination and has no place in running. I hope in some small way our club, through the regional Mid-Atlantic USATF organization, can apply some pressure on the national USATF which made this ruling. Read the article and follow the discussion at: ttp://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/masters/new-usatf-rule-restricting-can-run-usa-championship-races?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Runner%20CommunitiesForum:648106477Discussion:f7352725-b3cd-4eda-bfc5-23a843e73912Post:1aae8270-7b74-485c-a684-aa848332c3a9