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City Dock race gets 2006 off and running
By JOE SHAFRAN, For The Capital
Some of us bade goodbye to 2005 and rang in 2006 at races. One was the last morning of 2005, last Saturday in Baltimore and the other was at City Dock in Annapolis last Sunday, New Years Morning, 2006.
The Baltimore run was a retirement event for long –time runner and race director, Dave Cooley of Baltimore called The Coolman’s Last Stand. There must have been 500 there, a few from this area. And what do you do at the retirement gathering for a race director? You do a run and that’s what transpired in Baltimore. Registration was at the Clarence “Du” Burns Arena in the Canton section and the run was through much of abutting Fells Point. It was billed as 3.2 miles. David whispered to me before the race that he will run and walk this one . He’s done all the running he wants to do. There was no gold watch nor were there speeches.
There were bananas, Panera rolls and drinks and a table of 600 neatly laid out yellow chip timers with black bands, that I thought at first glance from a distance were canapés. History will recognize that Cooley has organized and directed some 600 races in his 20 years and raised $5 million for charity. Dave Cooley has introduced marathons in many cities that never realized the potential. One recent example was the Frederick marathon that now attracts hundreds. However, his start there was an auspicious one. On that particular Sunday in March about three years ago, snow began to fall when the starting gun went off and there were four inches on the ground after 2 hours and 30 minutes when the winner sloshed in..And they say retirement? Not necessarily. His actual swan song will be the upcoming National Marathon in Washington D.C., on March 25, a revival of the ones that went by the boards in the past. Cooley just couldn’t imagine that the Nation’s Capital did not have a marathon so he offered his consulting services and they were accepted and he began to pull this one together. It will start at RFK Stadium, go through parts of Prince George’s County and parts of the District where security is not of the Code Orange variety that in the past has hampered runs.
At the Annapolis run, I came to find out that Kathy Hanson, of the Annapolis area was there for Cooley’s “retirement” although I missed her in the Baltimore crowd. When I saw her at the City Dock Sunday morning, she said she always thought Fleet Street at Fells Point , along the harbor, was flat, but Saturday morning she found out he hard way that running it’s mile was a mean incline. . I note that the race planners were careful not to have the run go up Brewer’s Hill, a real steep one just above the Burns Arena that leads up to the Natty Boh buildings. For those who might not know , Natty Boh, is Baltimorean for National Bohemian, the beer. It goes along with Baltimore’s Hon. I would say the hit of the run in Baltimore was Evan Thomas of Annapolis, not necessarily for his running ability, but for his get-up . He was a literal running fashion plate He looked as though he had just come off the runway of a Paris fashion show at which the new spring designer running attire was previewed. But typical of Thomas, the clothing aside, he wowed the pre-race crowd by handing out his signature green “whirley” whistles, aptly noted as souvenirs of the occasion.
Now about the race the next morning to ring in the New Year in Annapolis, at City Dock This was the annual run, now directed by Addie Welch and Ashley Halsey that attracted about 200 or so runners, at least that’s how many tee shirts the organizers gave away. Seen at that morning run was Evan Thomas, again, but in a more subdued dark running outfit, fine for the occasion but nothing like he had on the day before. And speaking of get-ups, I am pleased to report that local lawyer, and leader of the 6:06 running group, Gill Cochran, was there, but not in the red jump suit that he was seen in last year, but in a very tastefully fitted two piece robins egg blue running outfit, tapered at the waist and the ankles, but emblazoned on the jacket back with the 12 inch square 6:06 logo. You couldn’t miss it. Also, to complement his blue outfit, he was wearing some sort of a greenish tiara that kept falling off. Shortly after 9 o’clock, Halsey got up on the back bumper of a black suburban, looked over the defense’s lineup , and called an audible to start the race.
I’ve been asked what happens when the 8th race of the Strider’s Championship Series is canceled, as was the one at Quiet Waters Park in December due to track conditions. Ron Bowman tells me the awards are then considered on the best of 5 of 7 and 7 of 7 for Iron Man Qualification.
Race Results
As promised here are the partial results of the Cold Turkey 10 K at Edgewater the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
The first ten men and women.
Andrew Madison, 18, 34:57. 2. Lain Banks, 28, 33.55. 3. Eric Makorsky, 32, 36.22. 4. Tom Hattar, M.D, 32, 37:05. 5. Mark Rosasco, 46, 38:47. 6. Patrick Kiley, 30, 39:10. 8. David Walser, 24, 40:01. 9. Noah Wood, 22, 40:06. 10. Stephen Guth, 15, 40:20. 11. Bob Keating, 45, 40:22.
Women:
7, Jill Hargis, 45, 39:50. 19. Alla Danilkovitch, 42, 43:02. 20. Carole Rosasco, 46, 43:22. 25. Mary Lynn - Hansen, 39, 44:31. 26. Allison Fox, 24, 44;28, 29. Karen Young, 37, 45:34, 38, Kelsey Buckworth, 22, 46:25. 42. Elizabeth Murphy, 34, 46:35. 44. Michelle Restivo, 28, 46:54. 46. Mary Morgan, 41, 47:05.
Running Calendar:
Sun. Jan.8, Orlando, Florida. Walt Disneyworld Marathon. Contact disneyworldmarathon.com
Sun. Jan 15, Phoenix, Arizona. P.F.Chang’s Rock N’ Roll Marathon. Go to rnraz.com
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