Clydes 10K

Sunday, April 17, 2005

article by Jim Carbary

Hope you guys enjoys the hill,” volunteer Eric Katkow said to the runners of the 27th Annual Clyde’s 10k as they rounded a corner onto Maryland Route 108 and headed toward The Hill. The Hill lasted from about 3 1/2 miles to 4 1/2 miles and represented the chief obstacle to a successful running of the event.

The Hill didn’t bother winner Mike Colaiacovo, who had taken the lead at the top of the first hill way back in the race. “I LOVE hills,” he enthusiastically remarked after winning in 33:52. “I worked the uphills and just tried to hang on going downhill.” With his competition— the formidable Mike Woodman and Alvin Yew— hot on his heels at the turn on 108, he “pounded” up The Hill on Route 108 and when he reached the top the race was his. Since moving from Virginia Beach to Howard County last year, Mike has joined the Striders and become a fixture on the racing team, helping the locals to win the Challenge 10 Miler in February. Mr. Colaiacovo accepted his first place award in the company of his two children.

Another new Columbia resident, Ann Reed thought “it was a lovely course,” although The Hill came as a shock. Ann passed two women at the top of the first hill and, like Mike, took over the lead in the women’s race. Shocking though it was, the Hill didn’t seem to slow down Ms. Reed, who cruised to win the women’s contest in 38:12. En route, she took down Robyn Humphrey, Howard County’s Woman Runner of the Year (2004), who finished second. Because of her family and busy schedule as a resident at Johns Hopkins, Ann manages to run only two or three races a year. She formerly ran on the track team at Stanford. She also accepted her award with her two kids.

Forty-six-year-old triathlete Keith McIntyre easily dispatched the men’s master’s competition and was the first man over 40 to finish. “The Hill on 108 tested me,” he admitted; he apparently passed the test because he finished seventh overall in 36:34. In a few weeks, look for Keith at the Columbia Triathlon and, later, at the Eagleman Half Ironman on the Eastern Shore.

Lisa Fichman, the first master woman, denied she was competing with her son, Matt (3rd, 15-19 men), “although it was in the back of my mind.”

Over 1200 runners competed in the race, which started and ended at the pedestrian overpass in the Columbia Town Center. Clyde’s of Columbia provided a lavish post-race brunch that included fresh California strawberries, chicken sandwiches, Clyde’s chili, pasta salad, Michelob Ultra, Powerade, Coca-Cola, and even hot dogs. Runners could combine the chili with the hot dogs to make dynamite chili-dogs. The contestants settled on the lawn beside Lake Kittimaqundi, ate their chili and pasta, and listened to Miles Weigold, the Voice of the Howard County Striders, review the awards. Overall winners received gift certificates from Feet First in Wilde Lake as well as a Clyde’s premium cotton jacket, while age group winners received a Clyde’s blanket, bag, or polo shirt.

With the assistance of his wife Ellen, Charlie Brown directed this year’s Clyde’s 10k. Course volunteers were provided by the Howard County Striders and the Howard County High Schools, and five young women from the state of North Dakota also helped out. The Striders wish to acknowledge the traffic control of the Howard County Police Department. The Annapolis Striders graciously donated the use of their timing matts and timing chips for the all-electronic scoring of the race.