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Running: Disappointment runs deep
By JOE SHAFRAN, For The Capital
There have been two very recent running world disappointments, for me anyway, and perhaps for others, also. One is there might not be a hoped for “ triple crown” of running this year, triple crown as in horse racing, and we might have to wait another year to see someone run a sub two-hour marathon. The Triple Crown was to have been carried out here in the east and the sub two-hour marathon could very well have come about at the Chicago Marathon a week from this Sunday, October 9th.
The triple crown was a made-up term by some folks in running to have included the Cherry Blossom Run in Washington this past spring, the Annapolis Ten Miler the end of August and the third leg was to be the Army Ten Mile coming up Sunday in Washington. The deal was that a prize would be awarded to the first American woman runner who could enter all three races and become the first to cross the finish line in all three of them. I thought it would be a great diversion in running.
However, I may have been expecting too much. A woman runner, Susanna Kvasnicka of Great Falls, Virginia, did place as the first female in the first two but is passing up the Army Race and the chance to get world fame and a handsome purse and become “Secretariat” of running. Instead, she told me she is going to run the Twin Cities marathon in Minnesota this Sunday,. where she can begin to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, which she feels is important in her running career. Then there’s the runner by name of Khalid Khannouchi, a 34 year old naturalized American of Moroccan descent , who was touted as the runner to watch in Chicago, a marathon he has won in stunning time in past years, but is passing it this year because of recent foot surgery. I have read somewhere that he too is saving up to qualify for the Olympics. Khannouchi has done marathons in two hours and five minutes and, with a good wind to his back, was expected to do Chicago this time in less than two hours. He says he will be at the race, but in street clothes, to cheer on the others.
Kvasnicka , was Susanna Mastran, in her thirties, a noted runner at Langley High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She came in 9th overall at the Cherry Blossom. At the Annapolis Ten Miler, she of course was the first woman and was 16th overall in an hour and about a minute. I watched her at the A-10 and noted her tenacity, especially running up the last hundred yards of the Cedar Park Road hill at the Navy Stadium. I spoke with her two weeks ago and she gave me the news that she had made up her mind to train for and run at the Twin Cities. I detect that she left the door open a bit for the Army in case something would happen in her extreme marathon training, but I would say with her tenacity, you’ll see her among the early finishers at Minneapolis.
And with Kannouchi out of the race in Chicago, the race people have begun promoting Deena Kastor, an Olympic Bronze Medalist, who does a half marathon in an hour and seven minutes. Already the American record holder in the marathon (2:21:16) and the 10,000 meters on the track (30:50.32), Kastor also owns American road bests over 5 km (14:54), 8 km (24:36) and 15 km (47:15). Her recent half marathon was a tune-up of sorts for the Chicago. Khanouchi did a press release on his own web site this week, expressing his regret
Among the 40,000 registered in Chicago, and among others who will be coming from here, will be many of the members of the Naval Academy Marathon Club who will list Annapolis as their home. None of them have backed out as far as I know, so watch for them live on Channel 2 in Chicago, ESPN 1000 or on the marathon web site, Chicago Marathon dot com. As for the Midshipmen, men and women, they should all be finishing in either less than three hours or a few minutes over. And don’t be surprised if you see some of them coming back and doing the marathon at the Baltimore. Chicago will have been the second of three marathons the club does. They competed in Boston, now Chicago and will do another to be selected. Baltimore may just be a bonus run for many of the Mids. Last year they did their third at the Steamtown in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
That Chicago race is subject to not- too-unusual temperature swings, so a runner has to dress accordingly. In recent years in early October, they’ve had start time temperatures in the mid forties with a wind off the lake. That doesn’t seem to be hindrance for top runners. Khannouchi, from Ossining, New York, and others did the marathon in just a few minutes over two hours. Khannouchi reminds that he finished all right, but had to be helped to his car.
The Annapolis Striders Metric Marathon will be held at 8:00 a.m. this Sunday, October 2nd, at Southern High School, at Harwood, All race day entries are $5 with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. The race is at 8. Awards will go two deep in the men’s and women’s open division and the following age groups: Men and women: 19 and under, 20-24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–69, and 70 and over. All runners and race workers are eligible for random drawings. The 26.2 kilometer (16.3 mile) course on scenic paved roads has gently rolling hills with significant hills at twelve and fourteen miles. Frequent water stops will keep runners well hydrated and refreshments will be served at the finish. For Annapolis Striders members this is the 7th leg of the 2005 Club Championship Series and a tune-up for the Marine Corps Marathon. All runners are welcome, volunteers are needed. You may even ease the boredom of running by looking at the change of colors in the trees and, for sure, much of the course will be cushioned with a soft layer of fallen leaves; the weekend weather forecast is for good running weather. Information: 301-855-0744 or www.annapolisstriders.org
Running Calendar
Saturday October 1st, Baltimore, M&T Bank Stadium. 8 A.M Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. 5K Run/Walk, 1 mile family fun walk… Limited Parking available on lots C , D, F, G and H at no charge. Registration is still open. $30 fee is a donation. Call 410-433-7223.
Sunday October 2nd, South River Colony, Edgewater. Second Annual Jodi Reitz Commemorative 5K fun run/walk Registration at 7:30 A.M. Proceeds go to Anne Arundel County Court Appointed Special Advocate Program for abused and neglected children. Call Ginny Meerman at 410-798-0124.
Sunday October 2nd, 8 A.M. The Army Ten Miler, Washington D.C. at the Pentagon. Registration is closed at 20,000 runners, but come watch the Golden Knights parachute to the start line at 7:15 A.M., weather permitting.
Sunday October 9th, Kinder Farm Park, Jumpers Hole Road, .10 A.M , the Cliff R. Roop Memorial run to raise funds to place automated external defibrillators (AED’s ) in public buildings. Call Jo Jones at 443- 306-6277.
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