07 October 2001

The Howard County Striders moved their Metric Marathon from early November to early October so that marathoners could use the 26.2 km (16.4 mile) race as a warm-up for 26.2-milers such as Baltimore and Marine Corps, which are held later in the month. The strategy, plus some excellent fall weather, seemed to work because over 300 runners turned out last Sunday for the Metric.

In fact, the participants may all have been "training through" the 16.4 miles, because neither the men's nor women's races were closely contested. Training for Montgomery County's "Marathon in the Parks," 24-year-old Kevin Betts seized the lead only a mile or so into the Metric and never relinquished it, although he admitted running out of gas near the finish and giving Doug Kuderna, age 40, some chance of getting back into the race. But Kuderna didn't know the course well enough to stage a successful rally and finished 35 seconds behind Mr. Betts. Neither had run the Metric Marathon before, although everyone had told them about the infamous hills on the course. "The wind in the last two miles bothered me [more than the hills]," remarked Mr. Kuderna. "I just needed a mile or so more distance and a few more years."

Lisa Coleman, who trains on the hills around Westminster, had no problem with the hills or the women's field. She took the lead early in the race and swept to a virtually uncontested victory in 1:54:27. A triathlete and master runner, she attributed her success to not having a migraine, as she had had the year before. Lisa was training for the Baltimore Marathon on October 20. Janet Jones, also in her 40s, finished second among the women about 3:30 behind Lisa.

Mark Rosasco of Baltimore and Howard County's own Dorothy Beckett won the top masters awards (since Kuderna and Coleman won overall awards). Ronnie Wong, a top master runner, arrived at the start several minutes late and found that everyone was gone! With a furious sprint, he caught back up rapidly and still finished among the top runners with a time of 1:50:51, which won the 55-59 men age group.

Those not wishing to commit to a full 26.2 km race could run the 5km race that took place a few minutes after the longer event started. Washington's Mike Fox-Boyd held off Frederick's Rick Kern by 15 seconds to win the 5 km in 16:22, while Julie Bravin of Fairfax ran the twisting 3.1 miles in a sub-19 time to win the women's race. Although there were no marathoners in the 5 km, the event did give a number of Junior Striders the chance to win awards: Melodie and Marquel Bowler, Rachel Carbary, Caitlin Fox, and Mark and Bruce Worley each took home age group awards. A total of 320 finished the Metric Marathon and 118 did the 5 km. Age group winners received gift certificates from Feet First of Wilde Lake as well as unique towels emblazoned with Mr. Metric logos. "Forever AD" provided live entertainment at the post-race ceremonies, where participants enjoyed Bagel Bin bagels, Produce Galore bananas, Ledo pizza (cheese and pepperoni), and various Coca-Cola brand soft drinks. The Metric Marathon served as the final leg of the Maryland Road Runner's Club of America championship series.

Brad Speierman directed the Metric Marathon and 5 km races with the support of numerous Howard County Striders, members of various high school cross country teams, and particularly the Howard County Police. The services of the course marshals were greatly appreciated along the long, hilly course from Columbia to Ellicott City and back.

-- by Jim Carbary