Boston Send-off Party & Spring Social
2011-04-13 Wednesday, 6:30-9:00pm
Location: Six Paupers – Hockessin DE
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.
The following club members are registered: Lee Kauffman, Mike Brown, Theresa Cannon-Kauffman, Lori Culnane, Sherri Herman, Paul Schweiter, Adam Shilling and Wes Stafford.
Not yet a club member?
This is a great time to join the club and meet fellow members. Pick up your shirt on the spot and enjoy free food at events throughout 2011!
Non-members are encouraged to donate a few bucks towards food.
A note from Mark Deshon; I agree with his assessment of Tresolini’s article:
Please see the two pieces linked to from the CRR homepage item on UD’s final men’s meet, which took place this past Saturday at the Delaware track, including Kevin Tresolini’s compelling article.http://www.ipa.udel.edu/deshon/CRR
The hottest race around?
Last June Mark Deshon and I participated in the Half-Sauer, Half-Kraut Marathon. There were problems with the venue near Reading and so the organizers have moved it to Pennypack Park in Philadelphia on June 26. You may think it’s crazy to run a marathon (or the accompanying half-marathon) at that time of year. If so, you are correct, but this event is definitely for those who like a bit of wackiness. You’ll get shuttled from and to the German beer garden, served bratwurst and sauer kraut and the first beer is on them. The awards are cuckoo-clock looking thermometers. I’m already in. Check http://www.uberendurancesports.com/ for more info on these races plus the ultra events on May 22 in the same park.
News from the President:
Come to weekly group runs!
You’re always welcome to bring guests to run or walk with us:
– Wednesdays 6pm at Delcastle
– Thursdays 6pm at Delcastle (followed by optional dinner)
– Sundays 8am on Main St Newark
Any distance, any pace. We meet before and after.
Great deal for sponsors!
If anyone knows of a possible DDC / club sponsor, contact
Ray() asap and he’ll provide information to the
business. For as little as a $250 donation, the company gets logo on race T-shirt, a prominent link on our website, and mention in every eBulletin for a year!
Garden Spot Village Marathon, 4/9/11 in New Holland, PA
Don, Chris, Denise, Dirk, Ray. (Don and Denise ran on a marathon relay team)
Ray’s Report:
For my Spring 2011 marathon, I wanted a low key race. Here’s my brief recap.
Read full account with photos at
RunMarathonMan.com
This would be the 3rd year for that race and several club members had run
the full or half last year. It’s hilly and small, but close enough that I’d
be able to sleep in my own bed the night before for the very first time –
and this was my 19th marathon!
Training wasn’t great, so I lowered my expectations. I’d try to start at an
8 minute pace, hoping to finish in under 3:40.
It was nice to have some friends to do the event with. Chris James
registered for Garden Spot as a “supported long run” of 22 miles. Dirk
Sweitgart would drive both of us out since his parents live in the
retirement community hosting the race. Dirk did the Half last year, winning
his age group, and was running the Half again.
The temperature was a near perfect mid-40s, the sky was overcast, and there
was only a hint of a breeze. A marathon without chip timing? It makes sense
to go “old school” when you’re in Amish Country! 240 of us were doing the
Full, and would be joined for the first 7 miles by 500 Half Marathoners and
a number of relay runners, including Don Ropp.
Right from the start, the entire course is rolling so I had already decided
not to concentrate on any particular pace. But a 7:25 first mile was a
little too aggressive and I tried to ease off a bit. I would have panicked
if I was shooting for a PR. Even with a fast start, Chris and Dirk were out
of sight ahead of me by mile 3.
Cows, Horses and Buggies
The entire course runs through farmland, and by the time I was done, I’d
never seen so much livestock in my life. It was very calming to constantly
be looking left and right to see cows and horses looking back at us from
their pastures. Goats, sheep, chickens (and one monster-size turkey), were
also enjoying the peaceful morning. Cute little Amish children posted
themselves in front of their mailboxes to watch the runners go by. All of
it was on country roads with virtually no shoulders, so there were
occasional cars and quite a few Amish buggies.
Rolling Hills
The elevation chart had me a little nervous about a significant up and down
hill in the early miles and then again towards the finish, but because we
were constantly going up and down anyway, the long grades were less
noticeable. It helped that the hills afforded pleasant views to help take
our minds off of the road.
Comfortable and Controlled
I was able to slow my pace at a fairly steady rate after that fast first
mile, but was still banking some time. My half split of around 1:41 felt
about right and the runners within sight all seemed to be maintaining their
positions. Sometimes I’d pass someone on a downhill, only to be passed by
them on the way back up. Water stations were well manned and they offered gels at several of them.
After the half, I rarely looked at my watch. When I didn’t feel myself
slowing much over miles 15, 16 and 17, I grew more optimistic about a
achieving my goal – as close to 3:30 as possible. More farm animals, more
cute Amish children, more horse-and-buggy traffic.
Gut Check
Other than Gatorade and water, I fueled up with gels at mile 11 and mile 20.
Seeing the sights kept my mind from dreading those final miles, but with a
long approach to the nasty little hill near 20, I had time to plan on
definitely walking the most difficult portion of it. Many others did the
same. I was pleasantly surprised how easily I regained my running stride
after an eighth mile or so.
My confidence increased with each milemarker and by 22, I was surprised that
my legs were only starting to get slightly heavy. Around 23, I came up
behind Chris, who was walking after shutting it down as planned. I got a
little carried away and in the midst of a few runners said one of the
stupidest things a runner could say out loud, “I feel great!” Quickly
realizing that the wheels could come off at any point, I actually laughed to
myself how idiotic it was to tempt fate like that.
Strong Finish
At mile 24, I was now passing half-marathoners and realized that I’d finish
under 3:30. The hills were over, so I just put things on auto-pilot and
continued to enjoy the scenery. My 3:25:19 time was 4 minutes faster than
my Wineglass time had been and I was ecstatic!
I found Dirk with a trophy in his hand for finishing “3rd Place Grandmaster”
in the Half. As we waited for Chris (who likely would have won his age
group) to walk in, I found out that I took 2nd in my age group, so I was now
on even more of a high. Ron Horne of Pretzel City Sports did his usual
humorous awards ceremony at 1pm and then it was time to head back to
Delaware.
Feel free to email a recap of an interesting race to share with others in this eBulletin!
Race results:
Garden Spot Marathon
3:25:19, Ray Christensen, 2nd 45-49
3:49, Chris James, used as 22 mile training run and walked to the finish
Garden Spot Half-Marathon
1:38:0l, Dirk Sweigart, 3rd Grand Master
Autism Half Marathon, Lewes, Sunday, April 10
1:31:57, Kelly Horowitz, Female winner
1:37:31, Kristen Stump, 1st 19-24
1:41:44, Carole Feole, 1st 50-54
1:41:49, Paul Schweizer
1:42:07, Claire Neilan, 3rd 35-39
1:48:38, Jack Horowitz
Autism 5K
20:17, Lisa Jalot, Female winner
Connie Dietrich 5K, Saturday, Hockessin
18:40, Tom Jermyn, 2nd Overall
Judicata 5K, Saturday, Wilmington Riverfront
17:11, Jay Coughenor, 1st 45-49 and unofficially 1st Master
17:25, Greg Cauller, 1st 50-54 and unofficially 2nd Master
21:45, Sheri Herrmann, 1st 40-44
22:58, Audrey Coughenor, 1st <13 
Lynne Knothe, female winner of the Phillies 5K, takes part in pre-game introductions at last Phillies spring training game.