Operation Iceberg Series #6

/in ,

123 runners came out on a beautiful football free Sunday afternoon to participate in the Howard County Striders winter series races at Longfellow Elementary School. Brooks Ward and Bethany Firebaugh led the way in the two miler. Mark Buschman and Kelly Westlake won the 10k race.

Mark Buschman set a new course record today. The previous record was 34:55. The new record is 34:27.

Race Lead:  Cecilia Murach

Volunteers:  John Bratiotis, Marc Burger, Donnie Chapman, Denise Hyde, Eric Johnston, Dwight Mikulis, Brad Murach, Alan Tominack, Julie Trapp, Faye Weaver, Jeffrey Weaver, Matthew Weaver, Michelle Weaver, Rebecca Weaver.

2 mile
1. Brooks Ward            11:29
2. Jason Tripp            11:36
3. Luis Navarro           11:47
4. Mark Loeffler          12:19
5. Wayne Johnson          12:48.1
6. Kevin Burk             12:48.6
7. Devin Rowell           13:17
8. Dan Laukzemis          13:39
9. Harry Rowell           13:43
10. Zack Spicer           14:19
11. Bethany Firebaugh     15:30
12. Karen Harvey          16:03
13. Omer Fancy            16:32.2
14. Dean Siedlecki        16:32.4
15. Anna Chien            16:37
16. Titan Blackwood       16:57(1st canine)
17. James Blackwood       16:57.1
18. Kash Hartz            17:17
19. Laura Gidley          17:27
20. Evan Calvert          17:28
21. Randy Becker          17:30
22. Joelle Becker         17:32
23. Sari Chapman          17:55
24. Roger Calvert         18:00
25. Leonard Guralnick     18:21
26. Lauren Siedlecki      18:46
27. Timmy Wassell         19:21
28. Ethan Hartz           19:39
29. Grant                 19:53
30. Nathan Capelle        19:56
31. Ginger Rowley         19:57
32. Abigail Pisanic       19:59
33. Mary Wassell          20:06
34. Melinda Krummerich    20:10
35. Jennifer Elkonoh      20:44
36. Megan Rivera          21:07
37. Alyssa Papaleo        21:08
38. Erin Ruddy            21:27
39. Xi Yan                22:11
40. Nathan Pisanic        22:22
41. Lisa Pisanic          22:23
42. Sandy Woods           23:08
43. Scott Woods           23:09
44. Sana Waheed           23:16
45. Brigid                23:34
46. Edward Wassell        23:55
47. Suzanne Damare        24:00
48. Luke Hessler          24:04
49. Jimmy Hessler         24:10
50. Jose Camacho          24:21
51. Rebecca Slebodnik     24:30
52. Deb Bechetti          24:31
53. Lola Jemibewon        24:48.2
54. Tim Ramsey            24:48.5
55. Anna Hernandez        26:06
56. Stanley Way           27:07
57. Melissa Burger        28:27
58. No Card               28:30

10k
1. Mark Buschman        34:27
2. Andrew Madison       36:54
3. Karsten Brown        37:42
4. Brian Fleming        39:53
5. Kelly Westlake       40:19
6. Nicholas Rivera      41:36
7. David Jun            41:58
8. John Chall           42:38
9. Robyn Humphrey       42:43
10. Bob Burns           42:47
11. Greg Schuler        43:33
12. Kendra Smith        43:41
13. Daniel Sebring      43:47
14. John Way            44:33
15. Robert Blanco       45:05
16. Michael Mbugi       45:23
17. Chad Burger         46:00
18. Alison Suckling     47:28
19. Tim Techathuvanan   48:00.3
20. Debbie Young        48:00.9
21. Brian Carroll       48:11
22. Steve Knoll         48:34
23. Adam Lowe           48:48
24. Zach Nelson         49:02
25. Eric Ellenz         49:03
26. Amanda An           49:58
27. Mike Fleming        50:05
28. Juan Fernandez      50:09
29. Rick Reposky        50:30
30. Chris Farmer        51:02
31. Marsha Demaree      51:31
32. Josh Snyder         52:13
33. Stephen Mang        52:52
34. Rob Vogel           53:48
35. Dan O'Brien         54:21
36. Jen Pullen          54:29
37. James Moreland      54:44
38. Emily Howe          54:56
39. Kayla Schneider     54:59
40. Mike Elkonoh        55:06
41. Emily Elkonoh       55:31
42. Larry Pike          55:40
43. Becky Holtz         55:43
44. David Ikels         55:49
45. James Scarborough   55:59
46. Brendon Stanton     58:04
47. Cindy Cohen         58:29
48. Christine Johnson   59:12
49. Pat Brooks          1:01:00
50. Kelly Dixon         1:01:42.1
51. Erin Blackwood      1:01:42.4
52. Amanda Idstein      1:01:46
53. Julie Mackel        1:01:47
54. Amelia Mullican     1:04:13
55. Mikail Ocasio       1:04:54
56. Elisa Reyes         1:05:00
57. Iris Gopez          1:05:01
58. John Eckstrom       1:05:47
59. Cavon Morley        1:07.50
60. Alison Woods        1:08:02
61. Amy Ellenz          1:08:22
62. No Card             1:08:24
63. Clint Henderson     1:14:40
64. Jacqueline Hughes   1:19:30
65. Daniel Waddoups     1:21:23.5
66. Robert Hale         1:21:23.7

Penguin Pace 5k

/in ,

2013 Penguin Pace Overall Results (Chip)

2013 Penguin Pace Overall Results (Gun)

2013 Penguin Pace Awards

Karsten Brown had run a 10-mile race in Frederick, MD, the day before the Penguin Pace 5k last Sunday, and he really didn’t expect to do as well as he did in the hilly race through the Longfellow and Beaverbrook communities. In fact, because of the light snow that fell the evening before, he said “I was afraid the race might be cancelled.” But after a blistering downhill in the first mile, he began gaining ground on the leaders, David Toller and Nick Grossi, both of Columbia, MD. “I knew the course,” Karsten explained, “because I’ve run the [Howard County Strider] Longfellow weekly race through here billions of times.” Certainly, he exaggerated. Anyway, Mr. Brown overhauled Toller just before the 5k course doubled back on itself on Lake View Circle, and he gradually gained ground ascending the final, mile-long hill back to the starting point at the Bain Center. He won in 17:28. “I was surprised the roads were in such good condition,” he said, “and I’m grateful to the volunteers for helpfully pointing out possibly slippery spots.” Note: Karsten won the race last year, too, after he ran the same 10 miler.

In the women’s race, Tiffany Hevner had all she could handle racing against Alison Slade. The two brushed aside last year’s winner, Robyn Humphrey, and took control of the field on the initial downhill. And they didn’t succumb to any late charge on the backside of the course, either. “If anything, they got farther ahead on the uphill,” Ms. Humphrey said. Eyewitnesses noted Hevner and Slade battling “neck and neck” up the final hill on Elliot’s Oak Road, but Hevner opened it up on the final 0.2 mile at the top of the hill to best her competitor by a scant eight seconds ahead of Slade. Columbia resident Hevner is a recent addition to the Strider racing team and finishing ninth overall in the Penguin Pace in 20:06.

An extremely popular race, the Penguin Pace closed its registration several weeks ago when the allowed maximum of 500 runners had signed up. The snowfall must have kept many away, because only 368 finished. Every runner received a long-sleeve “technical” t-shirt plus in one of those plastic bags usable for groceries. Overall and age group winners earned a signature Penguin Pace knit cap they’ve being giving out for 18 years. Karsten has a regular collection of them.

Co-Race Director Glenda Rodriguez was called out of town before the race and could not be on hand, but she phoned in the morning all the way from Puerto Rico to check up on the event. The other co-director, Malcolm Wolf, President of the Bain Center Council, was on hand, and he helped out at the post-race awards ceremony. Proceeds from the event went to the Bain Center Council, a non-profit advisory group associated with the Bain Center.

After the race, runners came in from the cold (it was 22F at race time) to enjoy a lavish brunch catered by the Elkridge Furnace Inn (circa 1744). The gourmet meal included elegant pastries, fruit salads, muffins, and beverages such as hot chocolate and orange juice.

In addition to the Bain Center, the Howard County Striders thank the Howard County Police for directing traffic during the event, and the dozens of chilled volunteers along the course who kept Karsten, among others, from slipping.

by Jim Carbary

Operation Iceberg Series #5

/in ,

78 runners enjoyed a bright sunny Winter Sunday while participating in the Howard County Striders winter series race at Northfield Elementary. Brooks Ward and Kendra Smith were the 5k winners.

Race Lead:  Cecilia Murach

Volunteers:  John Bratiotis, Marc Burger, Donnie Chapman, Denise Hyde, Eric Johnston, Dwight Mikulis, Brad Murach, Alan Tominack, Julie Trapp, Faye Weaver, Jeffrey Weaver, Matthew Weaver, Michelle Weaver, Rebecca Weaver.

5k
1. Brooks Ward            16:55
2. Kyle Berseth           17:24(wrong turn)
3. Mark Loeffler          18:57.3
4. Jonathan Horrocks      18:57.8
5. Lochlann Boyle         19:17
6. John Chall             19:27
7. Kevin Burke            19:29
8. S.G. Wills             19:40
9. Kendra Smith           20:06
10. Gregg Ford            20:20
11. John Way              20:21
12. Stephen Mang          20:26
13. Chad Burger           20:33
14. Robert Blanco         20:36
15. Dan Laukzemis         21:18
16. Evan Calvert          21:24
17. Harry Rowell          21:30
18. Brian Carroll         21:36
19. Myron Kremer          21:51
20. Eric Johnston         21:52
21. Vicki Lang            22:13
22. Marc Burger           22:42
23. Amanda An             22:49
24. Kirk Gordon           22:52
25. Mike Fleming          23:20
26. Marsha Demaree        23:29
27. David Horrocks        23:37
28. Lee Wilk              23:41
29. Laura Gidley          23:44
30. Barbara Lyons         23:49
31. Celine Pisaric        23:53
32. Ben Stein             24:14
33. Joey Echeverria       24:23
34. Karen Harvey          24:32
35. Emily Howe            24:40
36. Jen Pullen            24:41.2
37. Rob Vogel             24:41.8
38. Kash Hartz            25:24
39. Becky Holtz           25:28
40. Michael Martyn        25:31
41. Kenny Walker          25:48
42. Erin Blackwood        25:54
43. Larry Pike            26:02
44. James Scarborough     26:11
45. Timothy Hwu           27:08
46. Jennifer James        27:31
47. Thomas Stephanson     27:37.3
48. Jacquisha Kearson     27:37.5
49. Christine Peterson    27:50
50. Roger Calvert         28:13
51. Amanda Idstein        28:21
52. Pat Brooks            28:26
53. Bob Johnson           28:40
54. Mikail Ocasio         28:59
55. Chris Stephanson      29:28
56. Ginger Rowley         29:37
57. Anna Filipczak        29:38
58. Melinda Krummerich    30:04
59. Andrea Aldrich        30:05
60. Timmy Wessell         30:13
61. Abigail Pisanic       30:53
62. John Wassell          30:59
63. Bill Snelling         32:19
64. Clint Henderson       33:28
65. Mary Wassell          34:34
66. Ethan Hartz           34:39
67. Brigid Wassell        34:42
68. Edward Wassell        34:52
69. Michelle Weaver       35:22
70. No name               35:28
71. Margaret Barry        35:30
72. Nathan Pisanic        35:47
73. Lisa Pisanic          35:49
74. Erin Ruddy            36:03
75. Tim Ramsey            42:28
76. Joey Beck             43:00
77. Stanley Way           43:04
78. Monica Beck           43:35

Operation Iceberg Series #4

/in ,

86 runners came out on a warm, but very windy Sunday afternoon to run the Howard County Striders winter weekly series race at Thunder Hill Elementary. Stephen Olenick and Joelle Chall were the 2 mile leaders. Karsten Brown and Anna Holt-Gosselin won the 6 mile race.

Race Lead:  Marsha Demaree

Volunteers:  Bill Arbelaez, John Bratiotis, Marc Burger, Melissa Burger, Donnie Chapman, Sari Chapman, Denise Hyde, Grace Mang, Steve Mang, Debbie Sharp, Julie Trapp.

2 mile
1. Stephen Olenick      11:21
2. Brooks Ward          11:31
3. Phil Lang            11:51
4. Stuart Pineo         11:56
5. Mark Loeffler        12:07
6. Lochlann Boyle       12:26
7. Isaac Kirk-Davidoff  12:50
8. Paul Kirk-Davidoff   12:54.7
9. Devin Rowell         12:54.8
10. John Way            12:58
11. Bill Andrews        13:09
12. John Chall          13:12
13. Dan Laukzemis       13:19
14. Evan Calvert        13:35
15. Zack Spicer         13:37
16. Harry Rowell        13:55
17. Eric Johnston       13:56
18. Joelle Chall        14:04
19. Vicki Lang          14:19
20. Laura Gidley        15:12
21. Amy Kaiser-Jones    15:25
22. Alan Tominack       15:31
23. Bethany Firebaugh   15:38
24. Emily Elkonoh       16:30
25. Karen Harvey        17:04
26. Dee Nelson          17:08
27. Tom Stewart         17:26
28. Michelle Weaver     18:01
29. Cathy Thomas        18:08
30. Bob Johnson         18:17
31. Nathan Capelle      18:57
32. Ginger Rowley       18:59
33. Melinda Krummerich  19:13
34. Michael Miles       20:27
35. Jennifer Elkonoh    20:29
36. Julia Ross          20:51
37. Dylan Voight        20:56
38. Summer Voight       20:57.0
39. Paige Furtow        20:57.9
40. Marvin Xu           21:15
41. Amity Tripp         21:27
42. Audrey Loudin       21:35
43. Amanda Loudin       21:36
44. Erin Ruddy          21:54
45. Luke Hessler        23:10
46. Jimmy Hessler       23:15
47. Jose Camacho        23:46
48. Tim Ramsey          24:27
49. Stanley Way         25:28
50. Sharyn Gordon       26:10
51. Jeannie Larrison    26:12
52. Chris Caravoulias   27:36
53. Deborah Fuller      30:34
54. Dean Siedlicki      30:51 (started ~ 7 min late)
55. Evie Voight         37:45
56. Rebecca Weaver      37:46
57. Beth Voight         37:47

6 mile
1. Karsten Brown           37:19
2. Sheldon Degenhardt      37:46
3. James Blackwood         38:14
4. Chris Cusmans           39:25
5. Michael Mbugi           40:13
6. Steve Bohse             40:15
7. Anna Holt-Gosselin      40:49
8. Kendra Smith            41:18
9. Kaitlyn Comisky         41:22
10. Greg Schuler           41:36
11. Robert Blanco          43:42
12. Brian Carroll          44:54
13. Michael Spoor          45:25
14. Michael Bohse          45:54
15. Isabel Pineo           45:55
16. Xinhua Xu              47:28
17. Kevin Burke            47:29
18. Scott Woods            47:31
19. Timothy Hwu            47:43
20. Dan Devlin             48:17
21. Mike Fleming           48:33
22. Kirk Gordon            51:10
23. Amanda An              51:26
24. Jen Pullen             52:14
25. Emily Howe             52:23.4
26. Mike Elkonoh           52:23.8
27. No Card                53:09
28. Anna Chien             53:18
29. Brendon Stanton        56:02
30. Larry Pike             56:06
31. Chris Harrell          56:32
32. Stephanie Caporaletti  58:55
33. Matt Caporaletti       58:56
34. Jay Wang               59:09
35. Amanda Idstein         60:38
36. Mikail Ocasio          63:34
37. No Card
38. Iris Gopez (ran short)
39. Lisa Reyes (ran short)

Operation Iceberg Series #3

/in ,

A large contingent of 95 runners came out on a warm, foggy, January afternoon to participate in the 3rd winter weekly race sponsored by the Howard County Striders. Karsten Brown and Kendra Smith led the way in this 5k race.

Race Lead:  Donnie Chapman

Volunteers:  Caroline Bauer, Sari Chapman, Mike Fleming, Tammy Hermstein, Dwight Mikulis, Hai Ngyuen, Julie Trapp.

5k
1. Karsten Brown               17:28
2. Stephen Olenick             18:00
3. Jason Tripp                 18:26
4. Marshall Demaree            18:55
5. James Blackwood             19:24
6. Ted Poulos                  19:56
7. Kevin Burke                 19:59.2
8. Mark Loeffler               19:59.8
9. John Chall                  20:12
10. Lochlann Boyle             20:14
11. Dave Brightwell            20:39
12. Robert Eccles              20:46
13. Gregg Ford                 20:53
14. David Rowell               20:58
15. Bill Andrews               21:12
16. John Way                   21:21
17. Kendra Smith               21:27
18. Stephen Mang               21:38
19. Dan Laukzemis              21:41
20. Tristan Strickland         21:43
21. Robert Blanco              21:44
22. Chad Burger                22:05
23. No card                    22:07
24. Eric Johnston              22:08
25. David Valento              22:17
26. Harry Rowell               22:28
27. Isabel Pineo               22:44
28. Stuart Pineo               22:45
29. Ronnie Wong                22:49
30. Adam Bussey                23:33
31. Zach Spicer                23:34
32. Kirk Gordon                23:36
33. Amanda An                  23:47
34. Timothy Hwu                24:04
35. Marsha Demaree             24:06
36. David Horrocks             24:08
37. Tim Techathuvanan          24:18
38. Keith McCaffrey            24:22
39. Bethany Firebaugh          25:06
40. Alan Tominack              25:16
41. Marc Burger                25:22
42. Cindy Cohen                25:29.2
43. Chris Reading              25:29.7
44. Jen Pullen                 25:35
45. Doug Dixon                 25:40
46. Emily Howe                 25:45
47. David Keelan               26:13
48. Alan Borst                 26:21
49. Karen Harvey               26:47
50. Larry Pike                 26:51
51. Anna Chien                 26:55
52. James Scarborough          26:56
53. Michelle Weaver            26:59
54. Faye Weaver                27:01
55. Dee Nelson                 27:16
56. Jim Bitgood                27:43
57. Tom Stewart                27:58
58. Bob Lande                  28:00
59. John Wassell               28:30
60. Roger Calvert              29:08
61. Kash Hartz                 29:28
62. Bob Johnson                29:38
63. Jon Palks                  29:44
64. Cathy Thomas               30:06
65. Erin Blackwood             30:39
66. Mikail Ocasio              30:42
67. Laura Falvey               30:48
68. Kyle McCaffrey             30:51
69. Amanda Idstein             31:06
70. Melinda Krummerich         31:12
71. Ginger Rowley              31:16
72. Jeanne Larrison            31:33
73. Victoria Keelan            31:38
74. Nathan Capelle             31:42
75. Robert Gurtler             32:35
76. Michael Miles              32:37
77. Ethan Hartz                33:27
78. Brigid Wassell             33:29
79. Megan Rivera               33:35
80. Nick Rivera                33:36
81. Pat Brooks                 33:49
82. No Card                    34:52
83. Steve Reading              34:59
84. Irnande Altema             36:26
85. Janice Kurtenbach          36:49
86. Stephen Strickland         37:25
87. Jose Camacho               39:11
88. Shamshad Ali               39:35
89. Tim Ramsey                 40:03
90. Libby Wang                 41:55
91. Mary Wassell               42:14
92. Edward Wassell             42:22
93. Sahar Ali                  43:28
94. No Card                    45:27
95. Christina Caravoulias      47:53

Resolution Run 8K Prediction Run

/in ,

2013 Resolution Run Results

Operation Iceberg Series #2

/in ,

67 runners came out to the Howard County Striders 2nd winter weekly series race at Burleigh Manor middle this Sunday. Ted Poulos and Kendra Smith won the 2 miler, while Karsten Brown and Isabel Pineo were the 5 mile leaders.

Race Lead:  Dwight Mikulis

Volunteers:  John Bratiotis, Donnie Chapman, Sari Chapman, Mike Fleming, Denise Hyde, Daniel Kirk-Davidoff, Isaac Kirk-Davidoff, Julia Skinner, Teresa Symonds, Alan Tominack, Julie Trapp, Gavin Watson, Franz.

2 mile
1. Ted Poulos                     11:22
2. Luis Navarro                   11:42
3. Ralph Erickson                 12:07
4. Bill Andrews                   12:34
5. Dan Laukzemis                  12:53
6. Kendra Smith                   12:56
7. Tammy Liu Hermstein            13:47
8. Lee Wilk                       14:09
9. Faye Weaver                    14:20
10. Bill Arbelaez                 15:11
11. Kash Hartz                    15:21
12. Dee Nelson                    16:30
13. Nathan Capelle                16:50
14. Mary Erickson                 17:33
15. Grant  ?                      19:12
16. Thomas Stephanson             19:32
17. Chris Stephanson              19:38
18. Nancy Erickson                19:40 
19. Ethan Hartz                   19:43
20. Stephan Uzell                 19:44
21. Michael Miles                 19:58
22. Brian Namovitz                20:26
23. Steve Reading                 21:14
24. Ray R.                        22:02
25. Tim Ramsey                    24:33
26. Luke Hessler                  24:37
27. Jimmy Hessler                 24:46.32
28. Daniel Gonzalez               24:46.34
29. Melissa Burger                24:49
30. Linda Pineo                   25:03
31. Anya Hessler                  26:32
32. Alex Gonzalez                 27:07

5 mile
1. Karsten Brown               29:41
2. Sheldon Degenhardt          31:18
3. James Blackwood             32:05
4. Lochlann Boyle              32:20
5. John Chall                  33:00
6. Kevin Burke                 33:16
7. David Brightwood            33:32
8. John Way                    33:44
9. Robert Blanco               34:00
10. Steve Meininger            35:17
11. Evan Calvert               36:09
12. Xinhua Xu                  36:13
13. Stephen Mang               36:17
14. Isabel Pineo               36:35
15. Stuart Pineo               36:36
16. Steve Knoll                37:00
17. Kirk Gordon                38:21
18. Karen Young                38:49
19. Drew Miller                39:01
20. Laura Gidley               39:41
21. Amanda An                  40:41.3
22. Chad Burger                40:41.6
23. Chris Farmer               40:42
24. Marsha Demaree             40:48
25. Alison Hayes               41:08
26. Timothy Hwu                41:11
27. Linda Alms                 42:41
28. Greg Speake                43:20
29. David Ikels                43:52
30. Karen Harvey               43:55
31. James Scarborough          44:31
32. Carlos Gonzalez            45:23
33. Michael Mcneil             46:40
34. Melinda Krummerich         52:35
35. Leonard Guralnick          52:36

Operation Iceberg Series #1

/in ,

49 runners participated in the 1st Howard County Striders winter weekly race at Thunder hill Elementary. Jason Tripp and Karen Harvey were the winners in the 2 mile run. Karsten Brown and Kendra Smith led the way in the 10k race.

Race Lead:  John Bratiotis

Volunteers:  Melissa Burger, Barbara Calvert, Donnie Chapman, George Kroeker, Julia Skinner.

2 mile
1. Jason Tripp 			11:30
2. Lochlann Boyle 		12:10
3. Bill Andrews 		12:42
4. John Way 			12:53
5. Chad Burger 			13:01
6. Dan Laukzemis 		13:27
7. Wayne Johnson 		13:30
8. Karen Harvey 		17:17
9. Kash Hartz 			17:59
10. Teresa McFadden 		18:04
11. Christopher Stephenson 	18:05
12. Phil Heiliger 		18:21
13. Ethan Hartz 		18:29
14. Len Guralnick		18:41
15. Amanda Idstein 		18:47
16. Nathan Capelle 		19:01
17. Ginger Rowley 		19:47
18. Thomas Stephenson 		21:04.5
19. Stephen Uzzell 		21:04.9
20. Clint Henderson 		23:10
21. Margaret Barry 		23:58
22. Stanley Way 		30:45

6 mile
1. Karsten Brown 	36:30
2. Sheldon Degenhardt 	40:13
3. John Chall 		41:56
4. Kevin Burke 		42:00
5. Greg Schuler 	42:11
6. James Blackwood 	42:18
7. Steve Meininger 	42:22
8. Robert Blanco 	42:31
9. Evan Calvert 	43:53
10. Kendra Smith 	44:26
11. Xinhua Xu 		45:58
12. Amanda An 		48:59
13. Mike Fleming 	49:13
14. Eric Johnston 	49:19
15. David Barnhart 	50:49
16. Chris Farmer 	51:57
17. Marsha Demaree 	52:39
18. Anna Chien 		52:55
19. Emily Howe 		53:08
20. Linda Alms 		53:09
21. David Ikels 	54:11
22. Ronnie Wong 	58:38
23. Roger Calvert 	59:03
24. Allison Hayes 	59:33
25. Michael McNeil 	59:54
26. Mikail Ocasio 	1:03:13
27. Shamsaad Ali 	1:36:56

Turkey Trot 10K Prediction Run

/in ,

2012 Turkey Trot 10k Results (PDF)

36th Metric Running Festival

/in ,

Thanks to everyone who volunteered and participated on the Metric Running Festival!

2012 Metric_26k_Overall Results (PDF)

2012 Metric_26k_Results_by_Chip (PDF)

2012 Metric_26k_Awards (PDF)

2012 Metric_5k_Overall Results (PDF)

2012 Metric_5k_Results_by_Chip (PDF)

2012 Metric_5k_Awards (PDF)

Metric Running Festival Article by Jim Carbary:

The Howard County Striders staged the Metric Running Festival (26.2 km and 5km) last Sunday. Under new race director Grace Tran, they put on the most lavish Metric in the 36-year history of the event. Metric marathon runners received an American Apparel California Fleece jacket as the race premium while 5km runners received a SportScience nice gender specific T shirt. Runners enjoyed the post-race finish festival beside the Kittimaqundi lakefront with croissants and OJ from La Madeleine, coffee, bananas, bagels, donuts, and cookies from Wegman’s, an assortment of Popchips, beef-tips and mashed potatoes from the Ale House Columbia and pizza from Three Brothers. The Still Point Wellness Spa was on hand to soothe aching muscles with massage and acupuncture, along with TheraPearl with product giveaways. Many sponsors contributed to the random drawing with generous support from Feet First of Columbia, TheraPearl, Ale House Columbia, La Madeleine, and Nic Ebright Sports Massage as random awards. Pepsi Cola company sponsored the Pepsi Pacer team and was the premier beverage for the Metric Run Fest with Gatorade, Aquafina and soda for on-course and post-race support. Grace and helper Keith Levasseur began setting up at 2 am in the morning. “The auxiliary sheriff dropped by to check us out,” Keith explained.

Before all of this, though, the Metric runners had to cover the challenging distance from Columbia to Ellicott City and back. In the men’s competition, the lead pack raced through the first two miles in 12:30, which is pretty good, but that pace was too slow for David Toller so he increased speed and took over sole possession of the lead. “I wanted to run about 6 minutes per mile,” he said. “I went through 10 miles in around 60 minutes. It was just me and the guy on the bike.” He finished alone in 1:38:27.
Toller attended Oakland Mills High School and ran on the cross country team for Salisbury State, and his parents were on hand to witness his great victory.

Early in the race, a minor brush occurred between the top two women, Alyssa Hogan and Robyn Humphrey. When Robyn slapped hands with a friend along the course, she inadvertently cut off Hogan, who objected loudly. They soon settled down to racing, however, and Humphrey even apologized. Hogan settled the issue by pulling away after a few miles and cruising to a win in 1:54:19. Last year’s winner of the women’s race, Grandmaster Donna Wecker, finished third among the females.

Some of Metric Marathoners, like Mick Slonaker, had registered for the New York City Marathon the weekend before. When Superstorm Sandy forced cancellation of the New York Marathon, the marathoners descended on the Metric Marathon. “We had to use all that training for something,” Mick said.

For the second year, the Metric also featured specialized pacers running at strictly even paces of 7:45, 8:00, 8:15, up to 11:00 per mile.
Runners could ensure they would run these paces simply by associating with the orange-shirted Pepsi Pacers (sponsored by Pepsi Cola, see?). “We attempt to run within a few seconds of the appointed paces,” explained pacer Jeff Garstecki (8:00 per mile), “regardless of whether we’re going up or down or flat.” Pacers received free entries to the race, including the fleece jackets and those orange t-shirts.

Pepsi_Pacers

Overall winners received unique, hand-crafted awards from Robert Rhoades Wood Works, in addition to massage gift certificates from The Still Point Wellness Spa. Age group winners received plaques or mugs with yoga gift certificates from The Still Point Yoga.

Those not ready for the grueling 26.2 km race (or those with better things to do on Sunday morning) could run the accompanying 5km. This shorter event started 10 minutes after the 8:15 Metric start and ran around a course local to Lake Kittimaqundi. Scott Trama overcame local runners Shanon McIntyre and Hafiz “Coach Pain” Shaikh, while Kelly Westlake beat Jess Ivy by two seconds to win the women’s race.

329 finished the Metric Marathon, and 276 completed the 5k.