19 November 2000

"I ran this race just to see if I could run 16 miles without getting injured," said Columbian Vicki Lang about last Sunday's Metric Marathon (16.4 miles). Instead, she began the race with an Achilles tendon injury, which she had incurred training during the week before the race. Nevertheless, Lang found herself at 9 miles competing for the lead with Tara Smith of Olney, MD. Vicki "sucked it up" on the flats between 9 and 10 miles, breaking Smith with a surge, and pulling away for the women's victory in 1:55:23. But the win came at price. "If I hadn't been in the lead at 11 miles, I would have dropped out," she said, contemplating healing her Achilles during the next few weeks. Kirk Baird of Centreville, VA, ran the Metric Marathon as practice for next week's Memphis Marathon. He intended to run the first two miles as a warm up, then run the next 13 at "marathon race-pace," and then finish the last mile slowly. When he took off at 2 miles, he found himself all alone except for the pace-bike. "I didn't expect the hills," reported Mr. Kirk, a 2:26 marathoner. The hills, however, seemed to have little effect on his performance, and he easily won the men's race in 1:32:24. The Metric 5 km (3.1 mile) race took place at the same time as the Metric Marathon for those not willing (or able) to run an entire 26.2 km. Athough he started the 5 km far back in the field (10th at the mile), Gerry Clapper gradually worked his way up and took over first place not more than a quarter mile from the finish, where he held off a last-gasp effort by David Webster and won the short distance event in 17:06. In the women's 5 km, master runner Dorothy Beckett reprised her effort at the Airport 5 km Race and won the Metric 5 km in just under 21 minutes, "a more respectable time."

The cold and overcast morning remained cold and overcast throughout the race, with temperatures between 35 and 38F. Most runners bundled themselves in layers of nylon, lycra, and cotton, but Jason Tripp thrived in the chilly conditions and wore no more than shorts and a singlet. Tripp finished fourth overall, always staying a few steps ahead of grand-master Mick Slonaker (fifth overall), and a few steps behind Riverdale's Eric Aviles (third overall). "It was a lot more fun than the Grapevine," Mr. Tripp said, referring to a short but rugged 5 mile cross country race he had recently run.

The full Metric Marathon had a field of 257 finishers, and the Metric 5 km had 128. Staged by the Howard County Striders every fall, the Metric Marathon serves as the last race of the Maryland Grand Prix series of the Road Runners Club of America. For the third year in a row, Brad Speierman directed the Metric Marathon and 5k. He was helped by a variety of course and water marshals who served valiantly on a cold November morning. Paul Goldenberg coordinated the course volunteers, Dave Tripp lead the finish line crew, Jim DiScuillo did race results, and Miles Weigold made the race announcements The Striders particularly want to thank the Howard County Police for providing traffic control at key intersections along the 16.4 miles from Columbia to Ellicott City and back. All finishers of the long race received the famous Metric Marathon gloves. Age group winners won gift certificates and baseball caps with their finish place numbered on the back. Post-race refreshments included Ledo's square pizza, soft drinks from Coca Cola, bagels, fruit, and hot chocolate, which seemed a favorite. Post-race festivities included live entertainment from the rock band Forever A.D.

-- by James Carbary