From President Ray
Holiday Party Scheduled for Wed. 12/12/12 at Timothy’s
We’ve again reserved the upstairs room at Timothy’s, 100 Creek View Rd. off Paper Mill Rd. in Newark for the club’s Holiday Party. It will be on Wednesday, December 12 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. You buy your drinks and the club provides food. This is always a good time to renew your dues for 2013. Invite prospective club members to come as well. Your input will be appreciated on potential award winners for 2012 and club events for 2013. Get your club shirt if you’ve never received one. Please RSVP to Rachel () (see Events page) so we have an idea of how much food to order. Last two years, over 50 attended. New members who’ve never received their free club shirt will be able to pick it up. USATF team runners with four events this year who’ve not received their free singlet can get that. Everyone can get a bite to eat and meet lots of runners.
Renew PCVRC Membership for 2013 at Party or Online
Help us keep an accurate member list by bringing dues to the party and checking to see that we have accurate contact info for you. If not attending, you can mail $25 check payable to “PCVRC” to PCVRC, PO Box 3259, Wilmington, DE 19804 or paying $26 online by credit card at www.pcvrc.com/join.php
If you joined after Sept 1, you are already noted as paid for 2013.
USATF Team Members Receiving Free or Discounted Membership
Since our team had a strong showing due to numerous scorers, we won enough to again give free membership to 26 members who ran at least 4 series races:
Dan Simmons, Jerry Herman, Beth Howlett, Sherri Hermann, Tom Steenkamer,
Lee Kauffman, Dirk Sweigart, Sarah Rusk, Jay Coughenhour, John Costello,
John Schultz, Carole Feole, Lynn Knothe, Rich Syzmanski, Don Monagle,
Epi Comacho, Lisa Jalot, Bob Kleszics, Carol Giampietro, Josh Loren, Austin Gee, Chris James, Ray Christensen, Lori Fencer, Greg Cauller, Dave McCorquodale
We also decided to give discounted membership to those who ran 3 events, so 2013 dues will be just $15 for:
Andrea Rubinoff, Elan Kupchik, Hugh Campbell, Mike Digennaro, Dave Baca, Ralph McKinney, Andy Jukubawitch, Enos Benbow
Thanks to Caffe Gelato
The club thanks Ryan German for a $300 donation as result of a Wine Dinner fundraiser attended by 13 club members last month. Of course we enjoyed the wine, but the food was also fabulous as usual!
Coming Club Events
Before the end of the year, we’ll confirm date and location for the 31st Club Banquet as well as other events and fun runs. Let us know if you’d like to host a group run or have an idea.
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Results Announced for MA-USATF Off-Road Series:
The final standing for the Off-Road series club competition find PCVRC in a solid third place. Combined with the club’s fourth place finish in the more populated Grand Prix series, this third place demonstrates the diverse and versatile running abilities of our members. None of the top three teams in the Grand Prix series made any serious competitive effort in the Off-Road series. This showing continues our club’s long-standing ability to compete in both.
Individual age-group results yielded the following club members:
Open Male: Chris Steenkamer (5-way tie for second), others scoring points – Josh Loren, Andy Jacubowitch
Masters Male: Rich Szymanski, 2nd; Keith Crispin, Andrew Shearer, tied for 3rd.
Grand Masters: Tom Steenkamer, 3rd; others – Epi Camacho, Greg Cauller.
Senior Masters: Others – Fred Shufflebarger, Dan Simmons
Masters Female: Other – Lisa Jalot
Grandmasters Female: Other – Carol Giampetro, Beth Howlett, Lorri Fencer, Andea Rubinoff.
The first event of the 2013 Off-Road season will be the Chilly Cheeks 7.2 mi, 11 AM Feb 24 2013
Don’t forget to renew your USATF dues for 2013 if you wish to participate in the club competion: http://www.mausatf.org/join-membership.htm
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Fortitude for First Descents Marathon and Half Marathon:
Last Friday afternoon Carolyn and I headed down to the Lewes area, checked into the Sleep Inn, had a meal at the Bethany Blues restaurant, and hit the hay early in preparation for the races, which would go off at 7:30 the next morning at Cape Henlopen State Park. Up at five, we went downstairs for the continental breakfast before it officially opened and grabbed some cereal. The coffee was still old and so after preparing to leave, we headed for a Wawa for some fresh stuff. When we got to the Youth Camp building at the park, we realized we should have scrapped everything we had done since we got up and just come to the event. Inside the building, they had five boxes of Wawa “Joe” (coffee), cereal bars, bananas, and juice, plus indoor bathrooms. I had not remembered that from the previous year because it had started at 8:30 and I had driven down from home that morning.
The first edition of this event, which is put on to raise funds to take young cancer survivors on outdoor adventures to help to raise their spirits, had difficulties. Originally scheduled for August, it had been cancelled, because of the powerful rainstorm which came through, until December. The storm had also done damage to paths where the original course had been intended. So the first of the four loops had an extra quarter of a mile in it in order for the fours loops to come out to 26.2 miles. This year the original course was used. It made the challenge a bit more difficult as there were two miles of trails included in each 6.55 mile loop.
I also had the added problem of not remembering to bring something again. At the last marathon I forgot my racing shoes. This time, I remembered them, but forgot to bring the belt which would hold my energy flasks. I did have pockets on my shorts. So I put one of my four bottles in a pocket and left the other three on top of a car, just past the timing mat for each loop. The guys from Nova Timing were kind to allow me to do that. This meant that early on, I was actually carrying one pound less of weight.
Although I felt pretty good on Saturday, the trails and the rolling nature of a large portion of the course, sapped energy as the miles went on. I covered the first two miles at a pace of over 20 seconds per mile faster than I had done at Hartford. I finished the first two loops (half marathon) faster than I had run the first half of Hartford. This included having to stop at every water station to fill the little flask the race organizers provided to avoid using cups.
About two miles into the third loop, a guy who appeared to possibly be in my age group (ten year) passed me. I followed him for the rest of that loop. He slowed to get some energy supplies as we were finishing the third loop and I passed him. But a mile later I noticed that he was only yards behind me. I was very aware of his presence for the next four miles.
With about a mile and a half to go, he moved ahead of me and seemed to be pulling away. But after he put about forty yards on me, he settled into the same pace that I was running. I felt I needed to hold on and not yet make a move to gain on him. With half a mile to go, he hit the short steep hill that went up to and around the last lighthouse. Halfway up he stopped running and walked. Then he made the mistake of looking back. He turned and started running again, but I knew he was tired. I chugged up the hill and back down and cut the disparity between us in half. We had about three hundred yards before turning a corner for the finish. I slowly closed in, all the time thinking that if he had another push, that I didn’t know if I could respond. When we turned for the last hundred yards to the finish, I was two steps behind. I put my body into whatever gear I had left that passed for “Sprint” and went. I didn’t stop until I crossed the finish. He hadn’t responded.
We had a great conversation about how enjoyable it had been to compete with another person. (This experience would be hard to duplicate in a larger race where one is among many people.) I learned he was Kelly Kietzke, 62, from the Baltimore area. He mentioned a few other marathons he had done recently. Later I checked out not only his, but times of others in this race, who had been in recent marathons, and compared them. Consistently, a batch of older runners had done the FFFD Marathon ten to fifteen minutes slower than other recent marathons. That told me that I’m probably still capable of a much better time myself on the right course and on the right day.
Recommendation: This event is put on for a worthwhile cause and costs less to enter than the Rehoboth events coming up this weekend. The events are capped at the first 250, but they were short of that goal this year by about 75 registrants. In addition to being able to stock up on coffee and calories in a warm environment before the race, the runners can partake of delicious soup and pizza afterward. It’s a pleasant run through the park and the trails, but it’s not a fast course.
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Las Vegas Marathon Recap: from Jim Steele
Unlike many marathons that start bright and early, the Las Vegas marathon began at 3pm making for a long day of eager anticipation. We boarded a bus from our hotel at 1pm to head for an open parking lot across from Mandalay Bay to wait until the 3pm start. This is where the 26.2 mile run would also add in a few miles of walking. We walked through the resort and back down along the strip until we found the staging area, at least a mile. Plenty of music, bathrooms, water and the biggest apples I have ever seen in my life. The music was a Journey cover band which we all enjoyed.
Around 2:45 we headed out to the corrals and Rich and I decided to start with the 3:55 pace group. The temperature was around 70 and the warm desert sun was upon us. The gun went off at 3pm for the first wave and 6 minutes later my run started. The first mile was slight uphill into a 15mph wind, not bad, but the wind theme will continue. There was a turn around before mile one on the strip and then the next seven miles the wind was at our backs. Rich left me before the first mile marker, thanks training partner!
Running down the strip during the day was great, plenty of people cheering from Cabo Wabos, Margaritaville and other bars since it was so nice out. As we headed into old, downtown Las Vegas I saw the Pawn Stars shop and decided to peek in. No Chumley, so back to the run.
I think many of the larger hotels blocked a lot of the wind but as we moved off the strip the wind had really picked up. About mile nine, it was also starting to get dark and the course was heading out to the desert. This is when I saw the lead wheel chair on the way back in and he was flying. There was a water stop at mile ten and on the other side of the road I noticed the 21 mile marker. So I figured an out an back 11 mile run and I’ll be on my way to the finish.
At mile 11 it was dark, not much light out on the course other than street lights and traffic lights. I did notice one of the better bands that played was near this mile marker. From 11-13 it was an unnoticeable uphill until the halfway point of the race because you couldn’t see the gradual incline. I thought to myself, “my legs feel really heavy”, then the pace leader said, “great uphill guys, hardest part of the course, now were going down”. (More on this guy later).
The next five miles were boring, dark and no spectators. I was still running with the 3:55 group. Uneventful until mile 21, where the pace leader starts walking! He’s done and the group dismantles. It’s ok for me because we hit Fremont Street, which was the best section of the course. The street has a dome that enables lights and movies, etc to be projected. There were so many people cheering, girls dancing on bars, loud music and the mile 22 sign at the end. This is where my legs began significantly cramping and I knew four hours would be in jeopardy.
The course went back off the strip into a very seedy area. I was stressing because my legs were cramping and I never even saw the mile 23 marker. I hobbled along to the next water stop and took in as much Gatorade as possible. By now it was too late, the cramps were stinging consistently. I got to the next mile marker thinking it was 23 but, my God, it was 24, 2.2 to go. By this point the marathon course was merging back with the half course. The runners in the half were essentially on the other side of the street but heading towards the same finish line. I kept going, walking a little when I needed to in order to get to the finish line.
At mile 25 the madness on the strip began. There were thousands of people cheering you along the last mile. Towards the finish line, it reminded me of the Tour de France because between the barrier that separated the half marathon runners and the fans standing in the street, you had one lane and no one could even try to pass. It was crazy but the insanity made me forget about the cramps and cross the line at 4:09.
The finish line chute was about 1/2 mile long and you were not able to get out until the very end, which was near the Bellagio Hotel. Once able to get back on the sidewalk, it was a daunting task to fight the crowds in order to make my way back to the Mirage. And, another 1/2 mile walk. I made it! Let the celebration begin.
Positives: Spending time with the Rebels in Vegas, Fremont Street and finishing on the strip with everything lit up.
Negatives: 20mph winds, running in the dark, very warm for first 8 miles, miles 11-20 in the desert, super long finishing chute and a lot of additional walking.
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Race Results:
Fortitude for First Descents Half-Marathon:
2:57:02 Carolyn McCorquodale, 1st 60-69
Fortitude for First Descents Marathon:
4:26:23 Dave McCorquodale, 2st 60-69
Chase the Police and Santa Too 5K:
20:21 Kelly Horowitz, Overall Female winner
Las Vegas Half Marathon:
1:36:48 Chris James
1:53:29 Bill Human
2:13:25 Barbara Chelpaty
2:24:39 Jerry Herman
Las Vegas Marathon:
4:09:41 Jim Steele
4:33:46 Darlise DeMatteo
4:39:57 Tricia Szymanski
4:46:20 Rich Szymanski
4:49:20 Tony Chelpathy
5:17:29 Lori Culnane
Running with the Reindeer 5K:
17:21 Matt Cutrona, Overall winner
18:57 Sarah Rusk, Overall Female winner