Boston Send-off Party & Spring Social
2012-04-11 Wednesday, 6:30-9:00pm
Location: Six Paupers – Hockessin DE
Meet your fellow members!
Join us as we wish our fellow PCVRC Boston marathoners a safe and successful marathon. Various appetizers/finger food will be served, compliments of the club. Drinks will be available from the bar.
Although an RSVP is not necessary for this event it is always helpful if you can us know if you plan to attend to ensure that we have enough food for everyone.
Contact: Rachel Bleacher
Email:
Caesar Rodney & USATF Series Status
The Caesar Rodney Half-Marathon had 30 Pike Creek Valley Running Club participants. The 49th edition of this Wilmington running tradition brought out a good group of club members to run with over 1,400 other runners in the event and the accompanying 5K. The club was also participating in the event as part of the Mid-Atlantic USATF series and the top five team scorers accumulated 388.336 points in the race. After two events, PCVRC stands in fourth place in the club competition. Below, in Race Results, are listed all the club members I found. Please notify me if I missed your time.
From Ed Maher of MA-USATF:
The next Grand Prix race is the Valley Forge Revolutionary Run Five Mile Run on Sunday April 22 at 8:30am. The LDR Committee will have a table onsite at this race to display Grand Prix Circuit standings. However, due to National Park regulations no money can be exchanged on park grounds so we will not be able to accept membership fees. If anyone needs to join or renew their membership with USATF before this race, they should do so online as far in advance of the race date as possible; https://www.usatf.org/membership/application/
The Valley Forge Revolutionary Run online registration includes a separate registration category for USATF Mid-Atlantic members which enables us to enter our USATF membership number to take advantage of the $2 Grand Prix discount. For the Scott Coffee Moorestown Rotary 5 Miler online registration, there is also a place for our members to enter their USATF membership number to receive the $2 discount.
Hall of Fame From Tom Fort:
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame 2012 Banquet will be held on Thursday May 17th at the Chase Center on the Wilmington Riverfront, doors opening at 5:30PM for a social hour and the dinner beginning at 6:45PM.
To purchase banquet tickets to this grand night celebrating the best in Delaware sports, e-mail Sue Holloway at
Banquet tickets are $60 each. Tables for 10 are available. Phone (302) 992 – 0550. Checks payable to: “DSMHOF” can be mailed to:
DSMHOF, 801 Shipyard Drive, Wilmington, DE 19801. TICKETS CAN BE PAID BY VISA OR MASTER CARD BY CALLING (302) 425 – 3263.
Inductees include Terry Dendy, Jim Fischer and Ukee Washington for Track & Field and Mike Clark for Triathlon. The Delaware Distance Classic has given a portion of its funds for several years to the Mike Clark Foundation or the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware in Mike Clark’s name.
Adrenaline 5K Recap – From Jay Coughenour
(Received too late for last week’s Bulletin)
I’m at the starting line, and it is really crowded with everyone squished together. I can’t see Steenkamer or anyone else that I know and I figure they must be up-front as I’m about three-four people deep off the starting line.
The gun goes off and it’s immediately very fast. The pace feels too quick, and I’m dancing over potholes on Main St! I hit the mile in 5:32 and there is a girl who looks no older than 12 just ahead of me – this makes me feel old and slow. After one mile the field starts to thin out a bit. At about 1.5 miles I’m suddenly going down a big hill. Crap – I thought this was a flat course! Sure enough, just before the 2nd mile I find myself going up a hill. Steenkamer told me this was a “fast course” – that darn liar! Where is Steenkamer? I didn’t pass him – so he must still be up ahead kickin’ my ass.
I get to the top of the hill at the 2nd mile mark and finally pass that 12 year old girl – damn she’s tough! I better keep my act together or she’s gonna drop me like a bad habit in the last 400m. I look at my watch and realize that I slowed down the second mile. Crap. The race takes a final turn onto Main Street where I pass an old guy I recognize from one of the other teams. I think I better pick up the pace or he’ll still beat me on that dreaded ‘age score.’ Speaking of old timers, where is Steenkamer???
I come over a final rise on Main Street, dodging pot holes, and finally see the finish line. I try to speed up, but my legs feel detached from my brain and they fail to respond to the “go faster” command. Some guy on a megaphone is yelling at all the runners to “kick it in”. Some do just that and fly right by me like I’m standin’ still.
The finish line is pretty with a big blue banner. I finish, and feel like a winner of some sort because a dude immediately hands me a medal. I thought they only gave finishing medals for long races, but I don’t complain. I turn around and see that young girl finish, but unlike me, she looks really relaxed, as if in the middle of an easy workout. Where are the bagels? Where is Steenkamer?
Postscript – I checked the results, and the girl I mention above must been Briana Gess, a 13 year old who ran 17:27!
Jay has another tale about the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon, along with one from Theresa. It shouldn’t be difficult to pick out the person who is the common denominator in these recollections.
Jay Coughenour’s CR Half-marathon:
It’s chilly, with a bit of a breeze and a few drops of rain at the starting line. I’m about three-four people deep off the starting line, squished tight, waiting with Andy Jakubowitch for the start. Andy is a running buddy on weekly PCVRC runs from Newark’s Panera Bread on Sunday mornings.
Senator Carper says a few words that I don’t really hear, and then we all stand in the cold just a bit longer for the National Anthem. Finally, a cannon bursts and it seems like EVERYONE is flying down the hill toward the Wilmington waterfront. I thought Andy and I agreed to run 6:00 pace, but he is darting ahead with a big wave of humanity. I catch Andy just before the mile, which we hit in 5:40. Thanks a lot Andy!! We slow down, yet still pass a lot of runners who must have inadvertently thought this was a 5K.
The waterfront area is the same as usual, but slippery in spots. A few spectators cheer for loved ones, and a coach yells words of encouragement to his runners. Where is our PCVRC coach? Andy and I hit the three-mile split in 17:51, only three seconds/mile too fast, which isn’t bad. We settle into a good pace and I feel better. As we make our way up the boardwalk, we are now running into the teeth of the wind, which seems stronger than it did on the starting line. We catch a group of four-five runners and let them break the wind for us. I can’t recall our cumulative five-mile split, but I do remember Andy yelling out “5:51” for our 5th mile. This is NOT GOOD – as I doubt my ability to handle that pace for eight more miles. Crap! On Tuesday, Coach Fischer told me not to push it much faster than 6:00 pace, but I decide to hang within the perceived safety of our little pack, as dropping back and running alone would seem demoralizing.
We hit Walnut St and pass many people yelling out encouragement, which is wonderful! A few people I can’t see yell ‘Go Jay’ which I really appreciate! Everyone seems to know Andy along the way – Mr. Popularity! I notice more coaches yelling out splits and encouragement to runners on the other teams! Where is Rich? Is he our coach?
We turn onto Park Drive and head up the hills. The hills seem longer and steeper than I recall. My legs feel heavy, probably from last week’s Adrenaline 5K. Our group strings out on the hill and Andy gaps me by a few meters before the Museum – some runnin’ buddy, eh? We finally round the Rockford Tower. Josh Loren gives out a shout of encouragement, and we give Mike Monigle and his daughter a high-five as they cheer us on! Andy hits the 10-mile split in 60:03 and I follow in 60:11 – eleven seconds behind schedule – crap!
As we head back down the hills we now pass large crowds of runners making their way up to the museum. Now I see Rich! Rich is jogging up the hill laughing and having a great ol’ time. It reminds me that this is supposed to be a fun way to spend a Sunday morning! The downhill back into Wilmington is painful. I can’t understand how downhills can actually hurt?! Tom Steenkamer gives out a cheer at the hospital with about 1/2 mile to go. Thanks Tom!
My legs feel seriously heavy as I make the final turn up the last nasty hill to the finish. Why do they route the course this way? Race directors can be evil! I don’t know about the rest of you, but on that hill my legs were churning, but I felt like I was standing still. I look up and see Andy finishing in the mid 1:18’s! I try to put together a ‘sprint’ to the finish, which must have looked pathetic. Break 1:19? Nope, I clock in at 1:19:01 – damn that last hill! We get handed a medal by a nice volunteer. It feels good to finish and congratulate the other runners.
All in, it was a very good day except for a bit of a headwind. The roads were in good shape most of the way. The temperature was great, and rains never arrived. After finishing I quickly forget the pain – it truly is temporary. It was fun, and I hope to be out there again soon!
2012 Caesar Rodney -some reflections from Theresa Kauffman:
I shared a touching moment with a fellow club member at the finish area of Caesar Rodney this past Sunday that I feel compelled to share with the PCVRC. I had to dig deep to get through this CR. I looked for some external motivation as Sunday neared.
I noticed in the old results I had run CR in 1987 – at age 24 and placed 3rd. I found some comfort that I’m still running after 25 years. I thought about how many CR’s I have run and it is at least ten( I don’t keep track) Ok, a bit more comfort. I’m 49 and it’s the 49th CR. I was searching….
I had my fears, my concerns as for the first time during my running years, I have a heel condition/ injury that doesn’t “sustain” treatments. For the last eight months I have managed this condition to continue running at a slower pace with cross-training, PT and determination. Running has not been enjoyable to me, but I don’t want to stop. I think it is a common condition we all share. We all want to run fast… to feel good!
We get upset if our races are off by seconds….let alone dropping by minutes! So, as I finished CR on Sunday, I was relieved I ran pretty pain-free thanks to Dr. Feehery and a special padded sock that relieved pressure. However; when I looked to the clock, I had run my slowest time in a half-marathon..by over ten minutes. I know I told myself not to focus on time, but my heart sank.
As I saw some friends, I smiled, and looked around. I saw Rich Szymanksi finish the race. I had to go over to him for some reason and just hug! He made me forget everything about finishing slower. He had tears in his eyes. He looked awesome. I know the fight he has faced this past year and he has won! He is still running…. I had tears in my eyes now…. It hasn’t been “fun” to run this past year…. It has hurt…. But Rich faced a far greater battle and he crossed the finish line. He was just thankful to be able to run and at that moment I was happy too….
My heel will be fixed with surgery after I get through Boston, but because of Rich, I will be happy to just see the FINISH BANNER!
Results:
Caesar Rodney 5K:
17:58 Greg Cauller, 3rd Overall, 1st Master
Caesar Rodney Half Marathon:
MA-USATF participants:
1:19:01 Jay Coughenour 81.945
1:24:26 John Costello 79.984
1:30:52 Lee Kauffman 76.284 2nd 55-59
1:49:15 Beth Howlett 75.744
1:28:36 Sara Rusk 74.379 2nd 30-34
1:42:27 Dan Simmons 74.215
1:40:08 David James 73.103
1:47:41 Lorri Fencer 70.113
1:38:01 Dirk Sweigart 69.495
1:41:10 Sheri Herrmann 68.138
1:39:54 Ray Christensen 67.017
1:59:54 Dave McCorquodale 65.318
1:46:32 Claire Neilan 63.157
1:55:03 Rich Szymanski 56.743
2:20:46 Jerry Herman 56.192
3:07:16 John Schultz 49.751
Other PCVRC participants:
1:18:40 Andy Jacubowitch
1:24:22 Matt Sargant
1:38:31 Adam Shilling
1:42:39 Dave Farren
1:51:45 Theresa Kauffman
1:56:47 John Hand
2:02:47 Darlise DiMatteo
2:02:48 Andrea Landany
2:04:36 Tricia Szymanski
2:06:23 Frank Cebula
2:19:10 Rudy Antonini
2:45:36 Rachel Bleacher
2:45:37 Ryan Perkowski