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Running: Anxious to get back on track
By Joe Shafran, For The Capital
I know this isn´t the most pressing issue in the world today, but I do hope they get the resurfacing job done at Al Larramore Field at the Richard G. Ensor Stadium at Annapolis High School.
They´re going to put a new rubberized surface and lane markers on the track and all the materials were there earlier this week.
Hopefully, the job will be done in time so that the school and students can use it for training or gym class, or whatever.
Also, a new track would allow Dr. Scott Eden of Annapolis to use it for the last week or so of his summer morning Striders running class. When I stopped by there last week, the track wasn´t yet resurfaced and still off-limits.
So Dr. Eden had to make do and moved his class to a grassy area for the stretch-and-lecture portion. He then sent the students onto the wooded trail behind the school that leads to Broad Creek The trail was constructed in recent years under the guidance of Dr. Eden, But really, Dr. Eden needs the track as well as the trails.
Unfortunately, the re-surfacing won´t be completed in time for the planned running of the Annapolis Striders´ 24-hour team relay foot race, which was scheduled for noon on Aug. 13 and would have run until noon on the 14th.
The Striders had to cancel the event because the track isn´t finished and the race can´t be run in the woods; the Striders need a quarter-mile track.
It´s a shame the even can´t go on, because it´s an unusual one, to say the least. It´s not your usual foot race. This is a specialized event.
Fortunately, the race is under the able direction of Dick Hillman of Annapolis. He´s the one who kept things going last year, when the race was revived. This is a 24-hour relay, mind you - going all night under the lights as individuals in teams of runners each do about 40 laps around a quarter-mile track.
Nobody´s running at the speed of Northern Virginia´s Alan Webb, who does his miles in under four minutes. Still, you´ve got to run your guts out. You can´t just jog around. It is something to behold.
Oh well, Maybe next year.
TAKE A CLASS: You know that in this column, I encourage wannabe runners to take the Striders´ beginners running class. A times, I go outside the running box once in a while and encourage a triathlon or other exotic form of running.
I received an interesting e-mail from a reader who followed my advice - Chris Anne Spehar of Annapolis, took the running course. She must have gotten an ´A´ because she qualified for a 5K.
Being somewhat adventurous, she also signed up for the Breezy Point Triathlon. She says she did fine with the swim, but the bike portion was a disaster, because of mechanical problems. Still, with all her training, she blew the 5K in her personal worst to finish what she claims was a poor 26th in the triathlon. It happens. But in such instances, I encourage you to simply forge ahead.
DOG DAYS: As for exotic running, there´s the Striders Dog Days 8K at Anne Arundel Community College at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
The name "Dog Days" is appropriate, considering the August heat. But the race route´s redeeming feature it winds partially through the cool woods, with a small portion on pavement.
It´s a Striders event, the sixth leg of the championship series. Wheels, pets and baby strollers wouldn´t do well in this one, nor can you use headphones. The race starts near the stadium.
Call Matt Mace at 410-647-7633 for more information. You would have had to sign up by last Sunday to get the bargain rate. It´s now all of $5 on race day.
FATHERS AND SONS: In my continuing look at father / son running teams, I must report that the young Walser beat the older Walser at the John Wall Mile on July 16. Dave, 23, finished 18th overall in 5:25 and was third in the 20-29 age group. His old man, the other Dave (46) finished 26th in a not-too-shabby 5:35.
RACE RESULTS
John Wall Mile, July 16
Broadneck High
Top 10 men (with ages and times)
1. Scott Koehler, 21, 4:45; 2. Josh Dorsey, 23, 4:47; 3. Jon Schoenberg, 42, 4:50; 4. Tom Hattar, 43, 4:56; 5. Matt Gelety, 16, 5:05; 6. Nathan Nudelman, 30, 5:05; 7. Dan Phelan, 41, 5:05; 8. Pat Terranova, 15, 5:09; 9. Patrick Kiley, 30, 5:10; 10. Paul Serra, 49, 5:13.
Top 10 females (with finish, age, time)
28. Andrea Williams, 34, 5:36; 40. Sheryl Kline, 42, 5:44; 47. Jill Hargis, 44, 5:50; Jennifer Schoenberg, 32, 5:57; 55. Holly Marcum, 39, 6:01; 67. Mary Lynn Hansen, 39, 6:05; 68. Laurel Bell, 43, 6:13; 82. Mary Lang, 51, 6:32; 84. Maria Shields, 54, 6:33; 90. Shannon Riesenfeld, 25, 6:57.
CALENDAR
Saturday: Dewey Beach, Del., Venus on the Halfshell 5K run and walk. Benefits Dewey Beach Lifeguards. Visit racestorun.com on the internet. There´s also a 10K and a 5K coming up on Aug.20th, Check the Web site for more information.
Sunday: Anne Arundel Community College, 8 a.m. Dog Days 8K Cross Country race. Call Matt Mace at 410-647-7633.
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