RRCA Club Challenge 10M

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2002 Club Challenge Overall Results

2002 Club Challenge Team Results (Summary)

2002 Club Challenge Team Results (Women)

2002 Club Challenge Team Results (Men)

Although they brought only sixteen runners to the RRCA Challenge 10-Mile race, the Falls Road Running Store made every one count and upset the defending champions from the Montgomery County Road Runners. Craig Morrell lead the charge for the ‘Store by finishing second overall in 55:59, although he could have easily wound up fourth because of a tight race against Howard County’s Dave Berardi and Montgomery County’s Rob Magin and Joe Abernethy. When the dust settled, the Running Store stood second among the seven men’s teams, only a few points behind Montgomery County. The Store spectacularly captured first among the women’s teams, an effort that put their team over the top. Melissa Rittenhouse and Denise Knickman finished first and second among the women and knocked out strong teams from Montgomery County and Howard County. Interestingly, the top three women from the latter club- Vanessa Cox (4th W), Pat Wilkerson (6th W), and Lisa Coleman (7th W) – are all masters and generated a team score only a few points behind that of the Store.

But there was no doubt at any time about the winner. Glen Mays of the DC Road Runners easily pulled away from the field at five miles and finished over a minute ahead of Mr. Morrell. “I ‘m a good downhill runner,” he commented about the numerous hills that runners negotiated on the tough course through the Columbia neighborhood of Clary’s Forest. “I hope all our fast guys get healthy [for next year]” lamented Mick Slonaker, president of the Howard County Striders, who hosted the annual RRCA 10-Mile Challenge. Indeed, Howard County’s Trey Cassidy, who placed fourth on his team and 25th overall with a sub-60 time, was ill from a bad cold and had to drop out of a training run several days before the Challenge. The Striders have often won the Challenge race in past years, but managed to finish only fourth overall in the team competition this year. “Wait till Cherry Blossom,” groused one Howard Countian about the next team race.

Jim Adams, himself an RRCA representative, assembled the Falls Road Running Store team, which has the official name of “the Baltimore Runner’s Coalition.”

The 23rd Annual RRCA 10 Mile Challenge took place under such balmy conditions that few runners noticed that it was February 24th. Many ran in t-shirts and shorts, and those who ran in tights were simply too hot! The water stops were busy. Perhaps because of the fine weather, the Challenge race drew a record field of 422 registered.

The Howard County Striders put on the race, which began and ended at the Howard Community College. Ken Dent directed the Challenge, with traffic control by the Howard County police, and support from dozens of Howard County Striders along the course. Dick George and Dave Tripp ran the finish line, and Jim DiScuillo and others completed the results before many had showered. Each finisher received a pair of painter’s gloves and their choice of bagels, apples, bananas, and donuts. The donuts proved especially popular; runners consumed all 25 dozen. The first place man and woman earned awards; otherwise only team awards were given out. At the awards ceremony, Delegate Elizabeth Bobo presented the Howard Counrty Striders with a proclamation from the Maryland House of Delegates, which was about the Striders’ only glory that morning!

by Jim Carbary

Penguin Pace 5K

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2002 Penguin Pace Overall Results

2002 Penguin Pace Awards

The 2002 Penguin Pace 5k proved so popular that the field closed at a record number of 350 runners, and some hopefuls had to be turned away at registration. In spite of the crowded field, the race’s front-runners were distinctly alone. Anthony Fleg, Howard County’s Most-Improved Runner for 2001, seized the lead only 200 yards from the start, and he was never challenged on his way to a 16:38 victory. Fleg’s only competition seemed to be the Mike Kreft, the lead biker. “The bicycle guy kept looking back at me when I tried to pass him,” and, indeed, he almost did pass Mr. Kreft on the last uphill. Marjan Huizing, the 2000 U.S. National Champion Duathlete, similarly took the early lead in the women’s race and, quite literally, never looked back on her way to winning in 19:08. Fleg had never run the race, but Huizing had won in 2000 and usually comes up from her home in Rockville, MD, every February to run the race. After the race, Marjan headed off for a 50-mile bike ride while Anthony jogged out along the course to meet his mother, Rose, who also ran.

Huizing may have blown away her competition, but an intense race for second took place in her wake. Pat Wilkerson, Julie Thienel, and Kerrie Bowes traded places for 2 1/2 miles until Bowes and Theinel pulled away on the last uphill. In the last 50 yards, Kerrie finally out-sprinted Julie to claim second (19:54). Wilkerson faded to fourth among the women. “On Tuesday, I’m starting speedwork,” said Pat, who was the first masterwoman to finish.

Ted Poulos, now in the masters category, added to his own legend by edging 19-year-old Sean Dinces of Corona, CA, for second place. Ted ran 229 races in 2001 and won 127 of them. Other outstanding performances at the Pace included those of Ronnie Wong (1st, 50-59) who had just won his age gorup at the Bermuda Marathon, John Elliott (1st, 60-69) who finished right behind Ronnie, and Junior Striders Nathan D’Amico (age 10, 21:31) and Melodie Bowler (age 11, 24:00). Vivian Bailey celebrated her 84th birthday by running the race and received special recognition.

The event serves as a focal point every February for the Penguins who follow the “Penguin Chronicles” in Runner’s World. About 20 Penguins flocked to the race this year, coming from as far away as San Diego, CA. Chief Columbia Penguin Jeanette Lampron had them over for a pasta dinner and slumber party the night before. Penguin Mary De Mattia (2nd, 60-69 women) came all the way from Noli, MI, which is only a few miles from Hell, MI, which, she said, was “frozen over in February.”

Featuring the toughest hills in Columbia, MD, the race started and ended at the Florence Bain Senior Center. Arleen Dinneen directed the race (she also directs the Senior Center) with the support of the Howard County Striders and the Howard County Police. Dicarlo Raspberry of Swansfield Elementary School sang a rousing “God Bless America” before the start of the race, and Howard County Chief Executive Jim Robey started the event with “Go!” After finishing, runners enjoyed a sumptuous brunch of fresh vegetables, croissants, muffins, coffee and juice catered by the Elkridge Furnace Inn (circa 1744). “The food is always better than the course!” commented Eric Johnston, who runs the race every year. Age group winners received Penguin Pace hats, just in time for the winter.

by James Carbary

Women’s Distance Festival 5K

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2001 Women’s Distance Festival Overall Results

2001 Women’s Distance Festival Awards

2001 Women’s Distance Festival Team Results

“Go ahead, you can catch those girls,” Julie Deutschmann-Thienel said to Kerry Bowes half way through the Women’s Distance Festival 5k last Friday, July 6. The two had met for the first time on July 4 at the Meadefest 5k, where the younger Bowes had finished second overall and just beaten Thienel, who had set a personal record. Half-way around the Columbiba Mall, however, Julie ran ahead of Kerry and seemed on the verge of retaliation. When Bowes caught her rival the two of them were in third and fourth place, and Thienel’s words encouraged the former University of Maryland miler enough to challenge and overtake the leaders. Running “relaxed,” Ms. Bowes went on to win the all-woman race by the margin of 20 seconds. Thienel hung on to finish third overall, narrowly missing second place in a spirited sprint against Kristen Bremmer of Baltimore but setting yet another personal record.

Mothers-and-daughters paired up to compete in two age groups as two-person teams, although some of the 24 teams may have signed up to showcase peculiar team names. In the event, Bob’s Babes (Lindsay and Nancy Burns) outlasted the Georges (Libby and Lissa George) in the 15-and-Up group, while the Hibberts (Kathy and Jessica) overwhelmed the Under-15 group. The Georges have won the team competition in previous years, but were handicapped this year by Libby’s suffering a broken foot in the Spring while running for Haverford College. “I was happy to finish under 27 [minutes]!” enthused her mother Lissa.

The WDF race drew an all-woman field of 382 finishers. The women began running at midnight and circled the Columbia Mall twice. Unseasonably cool weather as well as the absence of a concert at Meriwether Post Pavilion and a nearly flat course made for a comfortable race. In spite of the favorable conditions, the numbers of runners was diminished somewhat because many were out of town for Independence Day.

Six-year-old Alyssa Shouse, the youngest runner, ran with her sisters Nicole and Chelsea. They all set personal records, and Alyssa beat her older sister, Chelsea. “My shoes came untied,” protested Chelsea (it was her first 5 km). “I had to carry Alyssa to the car because she was asleep,” commented Mrs. Karen Shouse about their late-night arrival. Along with all the 12 and under girls, the Shouse sisters received medals, and young Alyssa also won a random award.

For many of the women, the 5 km race marked their graduation from the Females In Training (FIT) program, conducted by the Howard County Striders every Spring. The FIT women had been running (and walking) every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon since April. Over 50 participants graduated this Spring.

For winning the race, Kerry Bowes earned a free entry into the Avon Women’s race in Baltimore in September as well as a Dry Release Shirt and other merchandise. Age group winners received lucite plaques and gift certificates from Feet First. Every participant got multi-color t-shirts and enjoyed bagels, fruit, spring water, and FIT graduation cake at the post-race ceremony.

Carrie Perfetto and Mikie Nard, two former FIT students, made their debut as directors of the Women’s Distance Festival. They were supported by the Howard County Strider men, who marshaled the race and managed the finish line, by the Howard County Police, and most importantly by Columbia Mall personnel who stayed up much later than usual to help administer the race. The Howard County General Hospital was the principal sponsor of the race and contributed a donation to the Sexual Trauma Treatment and Recovery (STTAR) Center on behalf of the Women’s Distance Festival.

The race is one of a series of WDF races held during the summer under the auspices of the Road Runner’s Club of America. Originally intended to celebrate the beginning of the women’s marathon at the Olympics, the WDF races now encourage women’s fitness through running. The Howard County edition of the Festival has taken place since the 1980’s.

by Jim Carbary

All Fruit Relay

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Five teams participated at Howard County Striders All-Fruit Relay on Memorial Day.

Team “Peachy Keen” (Jose Costa, Tunde Morakinyo, Daniel Jonas and Bill Arbelaez) won the 4 x 2mile event in 49:47.

All-Fruit Relay
28 May 2001
Oakland Mills Middle School

1. Peachy Keen 49:47 
Jose Costa 
Tunde Morakinyo 
Daniel Jonas 
Bill Arbelaez 

2. King Cobra 51:36 
Stephen Olenick 
Kerrie Bowes 
Len Guralnick 
Rusty Allwein 

3. Fred's Raisins 57:36 
David Karlheim 
Chris Karlheim 
Sean Silverman 
Ed Silverman 

4. Jr. Striders & Coach 59:18 
Jacob Esposito 
Johnna Esposito 
Joey Esposito 
Joe Esposito 

5. Sunkist 1:10:14 
Ray Lake 
Eric Johnston 
Barbara St. S. 
Farah A.

RRCA Club Challenge 10M

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2001 Club Challenge Overall Results

2001 Club Challenge Team Results (Summary)

2001 Club Challenge Team Results (Coed)

The Howard County Striders had not lost the 10-Mile Challenge race, an official Road Runner Club of America championship, in five years, but they knew they were in trouble when eight of their top runners didn’t show up last Sunday for the 2001 edition of the race. The Montgomery County Road Runners took full advantage of the situation and overwhelmed not only the defending champions but the four other clubs who posted racing teams. “This year we put the Challenge on our racing schedule, not our training schedule,” said Montgomery team coordinator Bill Riggs. Montgomery County dominated both the men’s and the women’s teams, and easily won the overall team championship. Buoyed by a strong showing on the women’s team, the Howard Countians did manage to pull out the second place overall. Rob Magin led the Montgomerians 55:15, as they placed four runners in the top 10 to Howard County’s three. Master runner Dave Berardi (age 40) and Oakland Mills High School runner Izudin “Izzy” Mehmedovic (age 16) paced the Howard Countians with times under 58 minutes. Dave had done a hard track workout the day before the race and “really didn’t plan to run faster than 65 [minutes],” while the 10 miler was Mehmedovic’s first race of that distance. Calling the hilly 10 mile course “the toughest race I’ve ever run,” Montgomery County’s Patty Fulton won the women’s race in 1:03:51. Howard County’s first women, Vicki Lang, finished the race over a minute faster than last year and claimed fifth place among the women in 1:06:32.

In spite of not having its top runners as team mates, a number of Howard Countians succeeded in setting personal records in spite of the hilly course. These included Lisa Coleman (1:08:26), Dorothy Beckett (1:11:39), Bill Arbelaez (1:09:29), and Len Guralnick (1:13:12). The race served as a Maryland State Championship team event for the Road Runner’s Club of America. RRCA President Freddi Carlip and Eastern Representative Jim Adams were on hand to hand out the team awards. The men’s, women’s, and combined teams won polished pewter plates, and for its overall championship the Montgomery County Road Runners also received the travelling trophy, “the second ugliest trophy in the world,” and will return it next year to the new champions. The first place runner, Craig Morrell, who ran unattached, also won a pewter plate, as did Ms. Fulton for winning the women’s race. All runners received complimentary runner’s gloves as well as bagels, fruit, and water refreshementsafter the “no-frills” race. A total of 305 runners finished the race, and six teams fielded full racing teams consisting of the top 12 men and three women. Ken Dent debuted as director of the race, which takes place every February. Howard Community College generously allowed runners to use its gymnasium as a staging area before the race and for the awards ceremony after the race. Howard County police provided traffic control throughout the 10-mile course, which runs mostly through the several hills of Clary’s Forest. Dozens of Howard County Striders marshalled the course early on Sunday morning, providing water and directions to the runners. Morning rains held off until many of the runners returned to the shelter of the college’s gymnasium, but many runners (and most course volunteers!) got caught in the drizzle. “People who ran fast and got in before the rain started [at 8 am] didn’t have nearly as much fun!” quipped race announcer Miles Wiegold.

by Jim Carbary

Penguin Pace 5K

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2001 Penguin Pace Overall Results

2001 Penguin Pace Awards

Two Virginians vied for the title of fastest fowl in Sunday’s hilly Penguin Pace 5k (3.1 miles) in Harper’s Choice. Ted Poulos of McLean, VA, who ran 100 races in 2000, outlasted Tim Renkiewicz of Burke, VA, who had ran a high school indoor meet the Saturday before the race. “I had a great first half,” Ted remarked about the first downhill mile in the race. He pulled away from the lead pack at the bottom of the first big hill, and Renkiewicz, who can run a flat mile in under 5 minutes, did his best to hold the pace. But the master of 100 races took a substantial lead going back up the same long hill and went on to win in 17:13- a time about 30 seconds slower than usual.

The women’s race featured the 1998 winner Connie Buckwalter of Lancaster, PA, and Rockville’s Marjan Huizing, who won the race in 2000. Ms. Buckwalter took off from the start and never let up, beating Huizing by the substantial margin of 17 seconds. “I didn’t know the competition,” commented the winner, who ran the 3.1 miles with a heart rate monitor so she could maintain her level of effort. “My heart rate went up slightly on the hill,” she said.

The Penguin Pace began and ended at the Florence Bain Senior Center in Harper’s Choice, winding down and then back up the steep hills of the Longfellow community next door. The event takes its inspiration from John Bingham’s “Penguin Chronicles,” a regular feature in Runners’ World magazine. Penguin affectionadoes have made the race their own, and penguins reportedly came from as far away as Vermont, Connecticutt, and California to run the race this year. Bingham himself was not available- he was in Antarctica running a real Penguin chase!

The field included one Vivian Bailey, born in February 1918, who celebrated her 83rd birthday at the Penguin Pace. Wearing race number 83, she received a special recognition award, and afterwards participants sang “Happy Birthday” to her. Ms. Bailey works out weekly at the senior center. Although intending to do the Penguin Pace next year, she commented “I don’t think I’ll become a runner.”

With the assistance of the Howard County Striders, Arleen Dinneen directed the race, which was the fifth Penguin Pace. The Howard County Police provided traffic control. Howard County Executive Jim Robey was on hand to start the race at 8 am. The Howard County Office of Aging provided organization and volunteers.

Nearly 300 registered for the race and 267 finished. Participants received a special Penguin Pace long-sleeved t-shirt, specially designed by artist Dan Herrick, and age-group winners received Penguin Pace knit caps. Participants and volunteers gathered in the Senior Center after the race for a lavish catered brunch by the Elkridge Furnace Inn (“since 1744”). The Banjo Buddies provided live entertainment while everyone chowed down on literal cornicopias of fresh fruit, vegetables, muffins and croissants, and assorted Dairy Maid juices.

James Carbary

Women’s Distance Festival 5K

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2000 Women’s Distance Festival Overall Results

2000 Women’s Distance Festival Awards

2000 Women’s Distance Festival Team Results

Cool temperatures produced sizzling times at the Howard County General Hospital’s Women’s Distance Festival 5k race last Friday night. It was appropriate that the 3.1 mile race around Columbia Mall started at Midnight as surely many of the 438 runners must have thought they were dreaming. The exact opposite of last year, the 2000 edition featured unusually cool weather and new, fast (Phish-free) course. “It was the nicest weather of any race this summer,” remarked winner Connie Buckwalter. Buckwalter, a PA resident and frequent visitor to the Baltimore racing scene, jumped to an early lead and never let it go. Local favorite, Vicki Lang, was elated over her 2nd place finish in a time of 18:22 as it was the fastest 5k time she’d run in 5 years! She attributed her stellar performance to “perfect weather and good competition”. Michelle Smith, who duked it out with Vicki for 2nd place last year, was 3rd in a time of 18:32, her fastest 5k time on the roads ever! Michelle, who runs for James Madison University, declined her finisher’s prize in order to retain her NCAA eligibility. She did, however, get to share this special evening with her mom, Gloria Smith, by running as part of a mother-daughter team, another great feature of this unique event. The team competition was won by “Archcats”, which was comprised on Nancy Catizone and Keesha Archard.

The WDF enjoyed a new title sponsor this year in Howard County General Hospital. Paul M. Gleichauf of HCGH, said the hospital was very pleased to sponsor the race because, “It’s about people being fit,” and is in keeping with a large part of their overall mission which is caring for the community and keeping it healthy. Other contributors to the race included Moving Comfort and Feet First. Runners enjoyed post-race refreshments provided by Einstein Bros. Bagels, Honest Tea, Stonyfield Farms Yogurt and Product Galore.

Race Director Kelly Barton put on another outstanding event and was assisted this year by assistant race director, Judith Gilbert. Of course, none of this would be possible without the invaluable assistance of the Columbia Mall, the Howard County Police and an army of Strider (& other) volunteers. Heading the volunteer group was Judith Colon, who was assisted by Ron Weber (race night registration), Jim Discuillo (results) Ralph Massella (water), Kathleen Lefkowitz (packet pickup), Bob Burns, Miles Weigold, and Dave and Jason Tripp (finish line), Ray Lake (course measurement) and Mick Slonaker(traffic).

RRCA Club Challenge 10M

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2000 Club Challenge Overall Results

2000 Club Challenge Team Results

The Mongomery County Road Runners made a concerted effort to beat the Howard County Striders and win this year’s 10 Mile Challenge, a road race in which competed the local chapters of the Road Runners Club of America. To that end, the Mongomerians held special winter track workouts for their runners to build “depth up front.” Montgomery County’s Steve Smith explained, “We knew Howard County would have their ‘stud-runners’ up front,so we had to improve our ‘B-team’,” which would simply outnumber the Howard Countians. In the actual event, held last Sunday on the hilly streets of Clary’s Forest, the strategy almost worked.

As expected, the core of Howard County’s men’s and women’s racing teams dominated the top positions. Columbia’s Mark Gilmore out-kicked Montgomery’s Rob Magin and won the overall race in 52:55, and Strider men took three of the top five places; while among the women, Howard County’s Vanessa Cox placed second to Marine Corps Marathon winner Donna Moore, and Strider women took three of the top five places among their gender and handily won the women’s championship. But after these speedsters came a flood of Montgomery County “depth” runners that seemingly tipped the score in favor of their team. The first compilation of the points from seven clubs (based on scoring the top 14 men and 3 women from each) had Mongomery County winning the overall team race, and at the post-race ceremony Montgomery County actually received the championship prize, an engraved pewter plate. However, Phil Anderson of the Renaissance All-Sports Athletic Club explained to race scorers that he had actually dropped out of the race, which altered the scoring qualifications to the top 13 men and 3 women on each team. This displacement still left Montgomery County with the men’s championship, but gave the overall championship to Howard County by a margin of only three points.

Although the fiercest competition was between the Howard and Montgomery teams, five other local running clubs participated in the 10-Mile Challenge, which the Howard County Striders host every February. The entire field numbered 360 runners, the largest contingent of which came from Montgomery County. This year a conflict with a swim meet at the Howard Community College caused a change of the race venue, with the course beginning at the Florence Bain Senior Center and ending at Swansfield Elementary School. Nevertheless, runners had to negotiate many of the same Clary’s Forest hills for which the race is famous. “Survive the hills” was how Baltimore’s Dave Brendle (5th overall) entitled the race. Paul Goldenberg directed the Challenge race with the help of the Howard County Police and an outstanding volunteer crew that roused themselves on a damp, foggy morning to cone and marshall the course. The Striders especially wish to thank the Florence Bain Senior Center, which provided facilities for pre-race registration and post-race ceremonies.

by Jim Carbary

Penguin Pace 5K

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2000 Penguin Pace Overall Results – Female

2000 Penguin Pace Overall Results – Male

2000 Penguin Pace Awards

Last Sunday morning dawned cold and clear with temperatures near 20F. The streets in Columbia had been cleared of recent snow, but small patches of ice remained at key turns on the Penguin Pace 5k, a very hilly race that started and ended at the Florence Bain Senior Center. Jeff Olenick, last year’s winner, and Mike Styczynski, Howard County Junior runner of 1999, found themselves locked in a close duel from the beginning until a sharp left-hand turn near the half-way point. “It was neck-and-neck until I slipped on the ice,” said Styczynski about his tumble that skinned his left knee and left Olenick, who runs for Goucher College, the leader of the field. “It was just dumb luck that he [Mike] fell down and I didn’t,” commented Jeff. Styczynski bounced right up after his fall, but neither runner regained his speed on the last, mostly-uphill part of the race. Olenick cruised the final mile and won in 16:11, 15 seconds ahead of Styczynski.

In the women’s contest, local favorite Robyn Humphrey assessed U.S. Team Duathlete Marjan Huizing at the start line with a “she looks pretty fast,” which turned out to be true. Humphrey’s own fast start did not phase Huizing, who normally runs a (flat) 5k in under 18 minutes. After the first downhill mile, Huizing overhauled Humphrey and, on the final uphill mile, put nearly a minute between herself and her competition, winning the women’s race in 19:29. “I don’t like the hills until after I’ve run them,” Marjan said about the terrain.

Among the older runners, Dr. Bobby Gessler annihilated the over-40 runners, with a time of 19:06, about a minute ahead of the second master, Gary Prada (father of the well-known Mike Prada). Robin Goodwin of Timonium surprised Columbia’s own Dorothy Beckett to win the women’s masters title. Second-place finisher Mike Styczynski seems to have been the only person in the race to fall down on the ice, which had been thoroughly sanded and salted. “We were going too slow to fall down,” said Al Greuter about the rest of the field. Barbara Walters and Ralph Massella agreed that, aside from the ice, the course was too hilly to set a personal record, so they didn’t try. “The experience [of running the course] was humbling,” said Ralph.

The main attraction to the Penguin Pace was probably not the challenging hills, but the lavish brunch enjoyed by all participants after the race at the cafeteria of the Senior Center. The brunch included muffins, sweet rolls, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables with dip, bread, croissants, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and orange juice. The Elkridge Furnace Inn, which has been in business since 1744, catered the affair and replenished the food trays as soon as supplies diminished. The Banjo Buddies Dixieland Band entertained the runners while they ate and provided drum rolls when the winners received their prizes.

The 2000 Penguin Pace drew a field of 311 finishers, which included a significant contingent of actual “penguins,” or followers of the “Penguin Chronicles” feature in Runner’s World. Columbia’s chief Penguin, Jeannette Lampron, estimated that about 40 of them showed up for the race. Some of them wore characteristic pink caps in the race, but none of them figured in the scoring. “After all, we’re penguins!”

Arleen Dineen directed the Penguin Pace, a Howard County Strider race that benefits the Howard County Department of Aging. Race and age-group winners received, appropriately, heavy knit caps appropriate for the season, and many others also won random awards. Principal sponsors of the race included Howard County General Hospital, the Lazarus Computer Foundation, Feet First of Wilde Lake, the Rouse Company, the Colosseum Gym and Fitness, the Manekin Real Estate, Comcast, and, of course, Team Penguin.

James Carbary

Police Pace 5K

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Police_Pace_Results