Carlos Renjifo took the lead in Sunday's Penguin Pace 5k about 100 yards in the to race, and he thought he had a good chance of winning the race, which he eventually did (16:20). But even as the competition dropped away on that first downhill, he never let up. "I was trying to set the course record," he said, referring to the 15:50 standard set in 2008 by Kent Werner. Carlos actually ran the first mile a little faster (4:48) than he did last year, but it wasn't enough. He knew when he passed the two mile mark on that last, long uphill, that Kent's record would stand for at least another year.
The Striders' female runner of the year, Sari Stenholm, was not trying to set the women's record, but she had little trouble dispatching the women's field. She led the whole 5 kilometers from start to finish. "I was running with the men," Sari said, noting that she passed Bob Gessler (2nd, 50-59 men) going up the long hill where Carlos succumbed. A native of Finland, Ms. Stenholm enjoyed the cold race temperatures in the mid-20's. She was the only woman to break 20 minutes (19:48).
For their efforts, Renjifo and Stenholm won the signature Penguin Pace fleece caps plus gift certificates to Feet First in Hickory Ridge.
The notable performances this year must surely include the exploits of the Gessler family. Sari may have passed him on that last uphill, but Bobby Gessler hung on to claim second among the grandmaster men (20:10), while his daughters Julie (2nd female overall!) and Katie placed 1-2 in the 15-19 females and Amy won the 14 and under age group. If his fourth daughter, Becky, hadn't been sick, they probably would have been five-for-five.
Supported by the Howard County Striders and the Howard County Police, the Penguin Pace was directed by Arleen Dinneen. The Pace followed the usual hilly course through the Longfellow neighborhood of Columbia, but the post-race ceremonies moved this year from the Bain Senior Center to the Harper's Choice Middle School. A broken water pipe in the senior center occasioned this change of venue. "The Senior Center was heavily flooded," said Arleen, who also manages the Senior Center. The post race brunch took place the school's cafeteria, and everyone received a paper bag with muffins, yogurt, and a banana from the Elkridge Furnace Inn (c. 1744).
A popular local event, the Penguin Pace closed its field this year at the limit of 300 runners.