The course was just as hilly as before and the finish was wet and sloppy as usual. Of course the hot cider and homemade cookies at the finish were great. The results were Carol Housaman 46:30, Joan Massaro 51:01, Pat Johnson 55:37, Molly Galloway 57:00, Byron Galloway 58:41, and Mike Johnson 61:18.

Ken Morrison came in 2nd place for the over 60 yrs. age group with a fine time of 26:47 in the 5K Run.  Congratulations, Ken!

The 40th Annual JFK 50 Miler proved to be quite a challenge for Team Lunatic as five of the 11 of them were attempting their 1st 50 mile run.  It was cold, windy and dark, but we took it on!  After 16 miles of mountains on the Appalachian Trail, a marathon on the C&O Canal, and then 8 miles of rolling country asphalt road... it was a long day! Amy Riggio startedwith a nagging knee injury and made it to the 25 mile mark to run another day.  George McVeigh had a fall in the mountains and another on the C&O that caused a hand cut requiring 7 stitches.  He too will be back!  Congratulations to Team Lunatic's newest member, Roger Claussen, and also to Kelly Bergenstock and Pat Johnson in finishing their 1st 50 Mile Run.  Read their reports below. Great Job!!

 

Thanks to an incredible job by those who crewed and stayed for those long hours out in the cold and wind to support our runners... Kathy Malinowski, Jean McVeigh, Jerry Bergenstock, Tom Corris, Mike Johnson and Charla Kilburn!  We couldn't do it without you!!

The results: ROGER CLAUSSEN 9:35:30, JOSE CAMPOS 10:46:58, ROBERT PHILLIPS 11:33:51, PHIL SILAS 12:22:54, JOHN TEMPONE 13:32:41, MARY MCMURRAY 13:32:41, JOE MALINOWSKI 14:00:51, KELLY BERGENSTOCK 14:00:52, and PAT JOHNSON 14:08:42.

Report by Pat Johnson... Bonnie and I talked several years ago of doing a 50 miler, but we quickly came to the conclusion that it would be an insane thing to do. Time passed and I never thought of it again until seeing our "Team Lunatic" starting to show up at the Christmas parties wearing their JFK 50 miler shirts. It planted a seed that continued to grow. I wanted that shirt!

 

They had a 0500 start for the runners planning to take longer than 12 hours. That would be most of Team Lunatic. The start was so dark, cold and windy and we missed the start by a few minutes. Then we were on our way up, up, up the mountain. Once we hit the dirt trail, it was difficult to see with our tiny flashlights but we kept on trucking. I heard one runner recommending the Dogwood 50K to another runner and I wanted to say "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

 

Day light made it easier but we covered a lot of very rocky mountain territory and again I was reminded of Dogwood and Bonnie and it made me fearful and sad. The path was narrow and towards the end of the 15 mile mountain section there were lots of switchbacks on the downhill and lots of people slipping and sliding. I was having a hard time keeping up with Team Lunatic and by the end of the mountain part I was ready to give up. As we came off the mountain, our support angels (Kathy, Mike, Charla, Jeannie and Jerry (Kelly's dad)) were there to help us change, fuel and move on. With a lot of hugs and encouragement from the Team Lunatic family and a reminder from Joe that it would be an emotional roller coaster, I kept on moving.

 

Kelly and I were both limping along as best we could with the help of Joe, Jerry and Mike. The next 26 miles were agonizing slow and long on the C&O Canal. We were so happy to see the end of the canal. We made it to the checkpoint before the cutoff with 8 miles to go. I ran the flats and down-hills for the next four miles and was digging so very deep within myself to finish. Mike just kept encouraging me every step of the way. A truck with flashing lights stopped with three miles to go and I thought he was going to pull me from the course because of time. He just wanted my number. At just past mile one to go, I found enough energy to starting running again. At that point only one person was behind me. I passed two more runners right before the finish.

 

The finish line was a very tearful and joyful experience. I got so many hugs and could feel the sense of accomplishment each one of us felt for each other. I would not have done it without the Team Lunatic family, each and every one! You know who you are and you are awesome! Thanks for the support, encourage, and confidence you had in me.

 

Report by Kelly Bergenstock... Ok, so where to begin. I know this race was a challenge from the late JFK himself but…he’s dead and I almost joined him! I went into this race knowing several things: I was injured, 50 miles is a long way and I was going to finish. I waited all year for this race and the day was finally here.

At 2am on Saturday morning I jumped out of bed to prepare for the 5am start. It was dark, cold and windy outside. I believe the wind chill was in the 20’s. We layered up and headed to the start. My first thought as I was freezing my ass off was, "Why am I doing this again?" We huddled in the school to get a pre-race brief. The air smelled of raw farts and Ben Gay. Yummy! The race director laid down the rules: Stay behind the pacer; Use your lights until sunrise; and Exercise extreme caution. He also managed to scold the jerk that didn’t appreciate the 5am start! Whatever dude! We walked behind the official race truck to the start. Our amazing crew team walked at our sides to cheer us on. We were a block away when the gun went off. Darn, now we would finish in 12 hours and 6 minutes. Duh!

We power-walked about three miles to the trailhead. It was very dark and the wind howled like something out of a horror movie. It was interesting to maneuver around the woods in the dark. We reached the first aide station with 47 miles to go. Woohoo! That energy would soon dissipate. We managed to stay behind the pacer (who was draped in Christmas lights). Alas, sunrise on the OTHER side of the mountain. We forged on, anxious to see our crew. The rocks and leaves were very slippery. Joe was our sweeper and a fine job he did! We laughed, joked and I believe I sang a verse of Joe Malinowski’s favorite song…Moooooon Riiiiiveeeer! Joe and I had to pee so we stopped to “take a whiz.” I hid behind a tree and tried to run back to the group. That landed me on my ass in front of everyone! Yup, the first dance with rocks was out of the way. Thank God my pants were up. We could hear cheers at the aide station as we approached. We had to be very careful on Weverton Cliffs. The switchbacks were nothing short of hellacious. We passed through the danger zone to meet our crew! We were all excited to see them.

Off we went on the next leg of the trail. The hike/run/walk seemed to go on for hours. Oh, that’s because it did. Five to be exact. Now we were on to phase two: The C&O canal. It’s now mile 15 and my Dad has joined Team Lunatic for the next leg of the race. We approached aide station 15 and there he was – the guy from Bob Evans with my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yeah! Couldn’t love that guy any more. We rushed across the train tracks (to beat the oncoming train!) to begin the 26 miles on the C&O canal. Things got real sketchy for me so don’t rely on my report for any sort of accuracy. I’ll share what I know, made up and prayed for.

I ran a bit over the next six miles. The muscle tear in my leg was getting worse. At mile 21 I could no longer run. My leg was unable to bend into stride. I told my Dad to run ahead and get in some miles. I told Joe, Pat Johnson, Amy Riggio, and Mary McMurray that I was having some technical difficulties. Mary and Amy ran ahead while Joe urged Pat and I on. We were both in quite a bit of pain. It was all walking from here. We saw our crew several times along the canal. The aide was almost every two miles and boy did we need it! Hot chicken soup, drinks and candy. The chicken soup was nothing short of Thanksgiving dinner. Yeah, it was the middle of the afternoon and still freezing! I had on three layers, gloves and a scarf around my mouth.

We relied heavily on an angel named Charla Kilburn to rub our bodies back into shape at the aide station. John Tempone—if you ever lose her I know of bunch of Lunatics that will hunt you down and kill you! Kathy Malinowski, my Dad, Mike Johnson, Jean McVeigh, and Charla… you guys were an amazing crew! Unfortunately Amy's "Sprocket" knee won the battle and she had to stop. What was it that John said, “It’s easy to be tough, hard to be smart. You did the right thing—be proud girl!

So we power-walked…and walked….and walked for hours on the damn C&O canal. Something like 8 hours—I can’t be sure. It was like being in a bad dream that you couldn’t escape from. Water, trees, the path and us. It seemed like every runner on the trail had something to say about our Team Lunatic jackets. Go Joe! It was hours of: “Hey, Team Lunatic…way to go!” and Pat would say: “Hey, we are all Lunatics.” It was almost like a recording. Speaking of recordings, what up with the guy who felt the need to ride up and down the canal all day playing oldies but goodies on his bike? Do you think I want to hear the Rockie theme while running for hours on end? NOT!

Anywho, as I said.. I can’t recall specifics because I was two steps from dementia at this point. I’ll sum up the canal this way: Blisters popping while walking, Pat switching out men, Joe talking about "shrinkage", caves full of villagers, wedgies, lots of BS, pain, hunger, cold, getting lapped by the 7am starters (always encouraging)—and so on. Normal day pretty much.

With 8 miles left on the canal Sprocket decides to tell me how bad I look. I powdered my nose and forged on. I asked Joe and he said I looked as bad as I always do. I whined a lot about having to walk. Mike and my Dad traded places and Dad was back on crew duty. Mike was on Husband duties x2!  Joe shut me up on several occasions over the next 8 miles. I really wanted to run and walking was killing me. We walked so much we couldn’t run even if we wanted to. We met the Hubba Hubba aide folks (I have no freakin idea what Hubba Hubba meant—but you really don’t care at mile 42 now do you?)—they gave us vests, which confirmed we were now watching nightfall. Wonderful. Just 8 miles to go.

We were off the canal and that was all the incentive I needed. That is until I saw the rolling hills and cow pastures that would represent the last 8 miles. I went through a mood at that point. I distinctly remember telling two guys behind me to shut up or I would kick their ass. Joe liked that. So, it was dark, cold, windy and we were in the middle of freakin nowhere, power-walking. You tell yourself dumb things like: Duh, anyone can run 8 miles, it’s almost over, everyone else finished, come on loser.—the standard stuff. Mike was helping Pat and Joe was helping me. I was counting to 10 and saying the alphabet a lot to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. I think I missed a letter or two but hey, who doesn’t?

Bla bla rolling hills, bla bla, cows, dark, cold you know the drill. Our moods were getting the best of us. I kept thanking Joe for staying with me. I know it was hard to power-walk all that way buddy! We saw our crew at mile 48—hey guys! Just what we needed. Can you even imagine how it felt to say: “See you at the finish?” Mike and Pat stayed together and so did Joe and I. The last miles just piss you off. They come slower than a movement during constipation! I earned the right to say that. Anyway, Joe and I weren’t doing much talking. “Dude, what are you getting on your pizza? Dude, are we there yet?”—that was about it. The statement of the day was Joe’s finest yet: “Oh great, there’s the railroad tracks.” I got all excited and replied, “What’s that mean?” Joe’s response: “We’re gonna cross em.” Nice. Tricked again!  I was losing my voice and freezing my bootie off. When we hit the freeway the aide worker shouted: “1 and 4 tenths mile to go!” Nice but, I can’t freakin add right now so you’ll need to speak English. We passed a tattoo shop (now that we were back in civilization) and decided to wait on getting the tattoo right now. We saw the 1-mile marker and Joe said, you are going to do it girl. He told me prior that I would cry at the finish. That’s a tall order for the princess of darkness!

“Right around that corner and 1.5 blocks is the finish”, Joe said. I couldn’t believe it. That or I was peeing my pants because I needed to! Then, the aide worker yells, “4 minutes to be an official finisher.” We both knew that meant—no running—no medal. We knew what we had to do—We peeled off the vest (photo op of course!) and decided to run. “Another guy yells, “If you guys have anything left in you, you need to run—3 minutes to finish. Then another “Five minutes to finish. Just keep your pace” (we were running now). Who the hell's clock were they using? We ran (I can’t be sure how) and we finished running. There were cheers from every direction. I bowed my head, received my medal and hugged the man that made it happen…my dude—Joe!

Of course that meant I was balling at this point. Everyone was hugging me and I was crying like a baby. Joe broke the princess! My Dad came running over to greet me and said., “You don’t quit do you?”—Nope, not my style. I can say I have never been that tired, hungry, cold and excited. I got a glance of the cemetery across the street as was glad I wasn’t in it! 14 hours and 30 seconds (5am-7pm) after I began, I could finally rest. It was the highlight of my life thus far. It was truly a mental game. Something took my leg and replaced it with sheer will. I owe everyone who came and supported us a BIG thank you! You guys made the day. Pat—I knew you could do it girl! You are tough as nails. Amy—we are a team. Alvin ran for us. Next year Sprock Rocker—I’m proud of you no matter what! Joe—what can I say? Dude…you were awesome! I don’t know anyone who would have added 2 hours on his  time to make sure I got in. I can’t even put into words how much that meant to me. Yes I can—Umstead 100 brother! I got yer back! The day was over. I could no longer walk. My feet were swollen, blistered and downright ugly! Joe’s smelled like butt! I could barely walk but I managed to make it to the hotel fireplace. What a day. I started the day watching Joe’s butt for 5 hours (trails—can’t look up—sorry Kathy!) and ended the day smelling his feet. What more can a girl ask for?! Congrats to all!

Braving the cold and rain, 148 people competed in Lake Ridge “RidgeRunners” Memorial Turkey Trot 10K Run and 5K Fitness Walk.

 

“I liked the course,” replied the new female course record holder Heather Hanscom.  Hanscom broke the old course record by two minutes and 25 seconds finishing the 6.2 mile challenging course in 37:19.  She was second only to Ted Poulos of Arlington, VA.  Poulos has set the world record three separate years for most races run in a year.  He has run in excess of 2,600 races in the last ten years.

JC did "another" JFK 50 Mile warmup by running the New York Marathon. His results:  half 1:56:19 & finish 4:11:06

 

CONGRATULATIONS JC!!

 

Report by Jose N Nieves-Campos (JC)... Wake up! It’s 5am the day before the marathon, I wanted to make sure that I leave early enough to beat rush hour Saturday morning and I did. When I arrived at the Jacob Javits Convention Center around 11:00 AM, there was already a line inside and out the center. I drove around for several minutes looking for a place to park and was able to find a place within five blocks from the center. When I got to the center there was huge corral were the runners were waiting before they were allowed to enter the check points. I waited in line about 45 minutes.

 

I also had to purchase a bus ticket to get to the starting line area... another long line! I waited 30 minutes to buy the bus ticket, but they had free lunch for runners. But, there was a "catch 22"... they give you a ride to the restaurant and then you had to find your way back to the hotel or the convention center. I passed on the free lunch! I drove to the Hotel were I was staying, that was 40 blocks from the finish line and few block from were the buses was picking everybody in the morning for the ride to the starting line. I ate pasta that evening.

 

Sunday morning came early as I thought I was going to get an earlier start on the rest of the runners to beat the rush to the bus ride, but the line was already 6 blocks long and 9 runners deep. I waited for over an hour to get on the bus! The temperature was in the 30s and runners were carrying blankets, card board boxes and extra heavy clothing. I finally made it to the bus line and was able to get inside the heated bus.

 

We were taken to the starting line or staging area and arrived about 7 AM with the temp still cold! The area was extremely small to hold that many runners. I believe there were over 40,000 people in the small park located at the beginning of Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. There were long lines everywhere for breakfast, coffee, and bathrooms (females were squatting as they made a huddle around each other for privacy). I saw people laying next to each other trying to stay warm (a military flash back of Korea!). Now I know why so many people were carrying all the extra equipment that I thought wasn't necessary. They had a few live bands trying to keep the runners awake and warm. They had a few tents that the early arrivals were able to accommodate. I saw about 20 runners huddle around a small generator trying to get some heat.

 

We had to wait over 4 hours in this weather. If I was near my car I would have said the heck with this and went home. This year they decided to start the elite women first at 10:30 AM. 30 minutes later they started calling the different corral colors to the starting line. Finally they called for the green color to line up. Runners were everywhere! The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was closed in all directions as we were lined-up on the upper and the lower decks of the bridge. Prior to the gun going off, there were still many runners wearing sweats and items just to stay warm. Runners were now getting hit by flying sweats, plastic bags, and all the extra clothing that they were using to keep warm.  They just threw them in the air trying to get them the to side.

 

We started running up the very long Verrazano-Narrows Bridge with nothing to stop the wind. The view was great. The temperature was still cold while runners were "drafting" behind runners trying to stay warm. Finally we were off the bridge as huge crowds of New York citizens were waiting for the runners at the end of the bridge. The entire street was closed... a six lane highway! I started at a good pace and couldn't believe there were so many New Yorkers cheering the runners. It was a holiday for them!

 

As I crossed the 10K chip mat and checked my time, I knew I was doing good! There were people cheering for the runners the entire length of the race. It was very nice and inspiring. I crossed the ½ marathon chip mat and was still doing OK! I noticed that I was starting to slow down just a bit. I believe my body used a lot of fuel just trying to stay warm while waiting at the park. I was doing 7 miles per hour. The aid-stations had plenty of water and Gatorade. Spectators were giving out fruit and handing out paper towels. There was only one Power Gel station at the 18 mile marker. Of course, I had plenty of honey, Halls mints and candy.

 

Finally I started to see the 22 mile marker! Amazingly my legs actually felt good through most of the race. I noticed that I started to slow down a bit, but I kept moving forward, gunning for a 4:00 finish. Damn those last four miles were hell! The hills seemed to be getting steeper! I arrived at 25 miles under 4 hours, but the last 1.2 miles took me 17 minutes. I was doing the "airborne" shuffle going up the hills. Finally I saw the 26 mile marker, then 300 yards, 200 yards and when I was within 100 yards I was able to see the blue sign that said FINISHED LINE! I came across the mat 4:11:06. I never felt that great to finish! There were hundreds of people finishing at the same time.

 

As we continued to walk thru they gave me my finisher's medal and handed me a plastic bag with a bagel, apple and banana. When we left the finishing area medical personal asked you if you were feeling OK. A few runners had to be carried out in stretcher and were taken to the medical tent where they were given chicken soup to warm them up. I managed to make it to the baggage claim truck and picked up my sweats and changed in to dry and warm clothes. I also noticed that my car was parked over 50 blocks from where I finished line ended. I started walking back to the Hotel, went straight to the restaurant next door and ate like a horse. Few hours later I drove back to (The Land of Lovers) Virginia!

As we adjusted ourselves to the Day Light Savings change, 11 RidgeRunners completed the 27th Annual Marine Corps Marathon.  We even had a surprise visit from "retired" Col. John Tempone, USMC, and his lovely fiance, Charla, who now reside in Tampa, FL.  The day started out cool in the upper 40s and quickly warmed up as the sun came up.  But, if you ask, most of us will tell you it was really "tough" this year!  Are we getting older??

 

The results are: Karen Merrill 3:29:48 (79th female overall), Roger Claussen 3:39:23, Steve Dodge 3:53:58, JC 4:24:36, Burl Hickman 4:37:15, John Tempone 4:38:13, Kelly Bergenstock 4:48:44, Mary McMurray 4:49:07, Melania Saraniero 5:02:22, Joe Malinowski 5:23:38 (21st MCM & 45th marathon), and George McVeigh 5:52:23 (27th marathon).  CONGRATULATIONS!

On Saturday October 26 eight RidgeRunners traveled to Ocean City, MD, for the Seaside 10 mile run. The weather was nice and the run was very flat. The results were as follows, Molly Galloway 1:27:19, Pat Johnson 1:30:57, Byron Galloway 1:30:33, Vicki Crosby 1:31:15, Mike Johnson 1:33:32 (PR), Kristen Johnson 1:50, Chris Konrad 2:04, and Sam Konrad 2:04.  Congratulations to all.

Ohio Canal Corridor hosted the 11th annual Akron, Ohio General Towpath Marathon, CanalWay 5K and Team Relay on Sunday, October 13, 2002 in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This event showcases some of the most beautiful segments of the historic Towpath Trail located between Akron and Cleveland. The Akron General Towpath Marathon is one of few marathons that take place in a national park, and many consider it a unique specialty race due to the setting and time of year in which it is run.

 

A cool and damp day awaited Pat & Mike Johnson. The marathon was run on the tow path for about 95% of the race. The rain was light at the start but ended shortly after the start of the marathon. Pat finished the marathon (16th and the 10th state) in 4:40 and Mike finished the 5K in 28:22.  Congratulations!

Report by Kelly Bergenstock... Wake up! It’s 4am and we have a marathon to run! I swear my alarm clock screamed that on Sunday morning as I jumped out of bed ready to run. I slithered out to the balcony to feel what I hoped would be warm weather. We were in luck! It was a cloudy 58 degrees. Bob, Roger, Dad and I met in the lobby at 5am ready to roll. We figured it was our last chance to see Roger before the finish!  

Off we went to catch the “Cheese Wagon” to the starting line. A nice 45 minute ride with an overweight bus driver, golden oldies playin in the background and finally…runners who didn’t smell…yet! The air was filled with random running chatter and excitement. I however, was having a “daymare” about being back in elementary school! I hate Cheese Wagons! We jumped off the bus to a crowd of screaming high school kids that were happy to see us. I had to warn Bob NOT to follow the girl with the “Follow Me” sign. She was aiding the runners not the single guys….and she was 14! We piled into the gym to stretch, leave behind last night’s dinner (which was an awesome carbo load party!) and pick on the other runners at random. That included various jolts between Bob and I.

After hearing Bob belt the Battle Hymn of the Republic…all 1200 of us were ready to run! The first sight on the route…a lovely “26 miles to Scranton” sign. We were off like a pack of wolves. Running through various towns, commenting on the beautiful scenery and trying to stay on pace. We picked up speed along the way because for once…we were actually running DOWN hill! Bob was carrying his 200 pound Camel Back, I had clothes on (there’s a first!) and Dad wore his (signature) crusty red running hat. Each town welcomed us with cheers and great aide. It was unbelievable to see so many people up that early to see a bunch of stinky runners!

Amazingly enough, my legs actually felt good through most of the race. Or was it the Advil? The most interesting things happened along the way: Dad was accused of being 72 (he’s 60), Dad and I were accused of being husband and wife (2x--- gross!) and Bob revealed that he wears a thong and a “manzere”. The last part was enough to scare off the guy in the yellow shirt! Dad and I were feeling good so we just went with it. We actually got to run 3 miles on an awesome trail. At mile 21 my Mom and crew were anxiously awaiting our arrival. Nothing like late in the game..hello!

Dad and I kept moving forward, gunning for a 4:30 finish. Damn those last three miles were hell! The hills seemed to be going up now! Oh…that’s because they were! I finally had to walk at mile 23. We were back in the city so the crowds kept me on my feet. So did the neighborhood of handicap people…makes you stop complaining REAL fast! I carried my sorry butt to mile 24 and realized I had 30 minutes to finish in 4:30. Well…that left time for a walk! I asked this guy what it means when you see spots. His response, “The finish is near!”—good answer! At mile 25 I looked at Dad and said, “Let’s roll!”

I would like to thank Satan for the huge hill in the last half mile! Who does that? Oh…and the people who told me “just 2 more blocks” when it was 8! Finally I could see the FINISH! I saw our crew and the adrenaline started pumping. I saw Roger standing there all showered and clean cheering us on. That’s because he finished in 3:23:29—go Rog!

Dad and I hauled bootie to the finish and I could hardly believe my eyes! 4:25:34! My last marathon was my fastest to date at 5:01! Who put the crack in my Wheaties?! Dad and I threw our hands up and bowed for our medals! Good times…good times! I left Bobby back pickin up chicks. He rolled in at 4:48:10! Without that pack he would have done a 2:50!

We grabbed a shower and headed back to Sniperland! Thanks to Roger for driving, Bob for …being Bob…..and Dad for the PR! Let’s do it again next year…or in 2 weeks as the case may be!

Report by Mary McMurray... I want to thank everyone who supported Joe Malinowski, Amy Riggio, and me in our run for Sunrise.  "Friends of Sunrise" received a gift of $416.00, which may be earmarked for a computer or camping equipment.  You generosity was inspiring.

The run was loooong!  The weather was cool, but the humidity made it somewhat uncomfortable.  We started off at 7:35 am, and meandered through Loudon, Fairfax, and Arlington Counties.  I love this run because the W&OD trail is so easy to miss if you're not looking for it.  People shopping in Vienna or Herndon would never guess that we were just passing through running 45.5 miles!  It feels so covert!

Amy was a real trooper, and had a great attitude the whole way!  Kudos to her in her first try at 45.5 miles.  Her husband was a true gent and showed up in Shirlington with flowers.  Smart man!  He also had a Corona Beer for Joe.

Thanks, Joe, for once again overriding my reasonable brain and talking me into this nonsense.  I do it 'cause I can.  I'm sure they'll be coming out with a space-age titanium knee in the next few years…

As always, Kathy, you are my hero.  Love ya' honey!

Thanks again to all that donated.  You're good people.

 

Report by Amy Riggio... never in my lifetime did I think that I would actually complete a 45.5 mile "jaunt" because I wanted to. I guess that is exactly why I now wear a jacket with the words "Team Lunatic" on the back. Many people called me crazy when I was training for my first marathon. But I did it. Even my own family shook their heads in disbelief when I told them the news of Andiamo. But I DID IT!!

 

Although the pain set in at mile 30 and really didn't end until Monday night (hahaha) the excitement of actually completing an Ultra kept me going.  That and the fact that I had two seasoned vets with me on the W&OD trail.  Mary and Joe were incredible! I couldn't have chosen a better tandem to help me understand the mechanics, nutrition and enjoyment of being out there for 45 miles. We learned about each others ailments, we learned that the trail in Purcellville is a lot safer than the trail in Arlington and we also learned that you must warn before you pass on the trail. 

 

I also found out that within that 45 mile path angels just show up out of nowhere with food and drink. This angel was not only there with physical supplementation but she also provided the ever so needed mental encouragement. Thanks to Kathy Malinowski! I couldn't have done it without you!!  With that said...on to JFK!!

Quantico Half-Marathon, Quantico Marine Corps Base, VA, 10/05/02

Report by Joe Malinowski... I'm writing this report as a "spectator".  This is the first road race I have ever watched from the side-lines.  What an experience it was to see your friends do so well under such undesirable weather conditions.  It was in the high 80s and the humidity close to 100%.  But, our RidgeRunners were awesome! Callie Edmundson and Carol Housaman took 1st and 2nd Place respectively in their age groups.  Sara Strom, one of our newest RidgeRunners, ran her first half-marathon.  Shane Johnson, also running his first half-marathon, energized the "new" Mike Johnson to finish and now plans to run next year's Shamrock Marathon with son.

 

Here are the results: Callie Edmundson 1:41:23, Carol Housaman 1:41:44, Karen Merrill 1:42:36, Sara Strom 2:00:45, Rob & Mel Saraniero 2:02:27, Kelly Bergenstock 2:06:47, JC 2:06:52, Pat Johnson 2:07:00, Burl Hickman 2:21:31, Mike Johnson 2:22:04, George McVeigh 2:40:54, and Shane Johnson 2:53:02.  Congratulations!

The Tenth VHTRC Women's Half-Marathon Trail Run was held in warm, humid weather. Kristen Eddy led 168 finishers across the line. There was heated competition for the best blood and, a new category this year, the "best dirt" awards.  There was even a broken ankle that had to tended to.  Kelly Bergenstock and Melania Saraniero represented the RidgeRunner women in style with times of 2:54:35 and 2:59:14 respectively.  Great times on a tough course.  Bob Phillips, George McVeigh, Tom Corris, Phil Silas, and Joe Malinowski helped out at the aid-stations, parking, and finish-line.

Report by Kelly Bergenstock... my racing season opened this year with the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon. I can’t think of a better way start out the day than: live bands for 13 miles, cheering fans at every corner, 15,000 of your closest running buds and of course, ELVIS! What’s a race without the King…uhuh? The crowd support in this race is just awesome. The entire course is lined with barricades of screaming fans and 20 cheerleading squads from local schools.

The day began at 6:15am with a torrential downpour. It was a beautiful thing! My Aunt Kathy, cousin Kim, Laurie Lisi and my buddy Dave were running with me. Unfortunately we were corralled like cattle in different places. I would never believe that 15,000 people could be quiet but….when the call came to sing the national anthem you could hear a pin drop! It was quite moving. The gun went off at the conclusion of the anthem and the cattle were on their way!  

It took 5 miles to break out and get a good pace. The course is very flat and fast. Unfortunately a lot of the runners were not….fast that is! This made for slow going. I was able to kick it in between the 10k and 10-mile mark. I managed to run through every aide station and drink while moving. I had a goal to do a 2-hour ½. I realized by mile 9 that I had lost too much time in the first 5 miles to reach my 2-hour goal. The only thing left to do was: pop a gel and run as fast as I could! Good thought…bad plan! You see your legs tend to have something to say about that when you take the entire summer off from training! 

When all was said and done I crossed the finish line at 2:05:34. (Thanks to the Leukemia pacer holding the 2:07 sign—I knew to stay ahead of him!). Dave came in at 2:20, Laurie at 2:30, and Kathy and Kim at 3:03. This was their first ½! Kathy struggled through with a stomach problem and prevailed! I highly recommend this race to the club for next year! It’s great! I sported the Team Lunatic vest around the expo to give us some press!

Dr. Pete Mendel had an excellent time of 1:45:39.  This was a half-marathon PR for Pete by 8 minutes!  CONGRATULATIONS PETE & KELLY!

Early Sunday morning's overcast gave way to a brilliant sun as 22 RidgeRunners ran the 27th Annual Annapolis 10 Mile. By the 7:50 AM "gun time", the temperature began to rise in the 80s with the humidity we all know so well around the Chesapeake Bay. The race started and finished at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium of the US Naval Academy.  It started in east parking lot of the stadium; looped around the stadium perimeter to Rowe Blvd; past Church Circle and down historic Main Street into Gate 1; traversed the sea walls in the Naval Academy; crossed the Severn River on new bridge; shaded country roads / Ritchie Hwy / rolling hills; re-crossed river; and finished on grass in front of stadium. At the finish-line, all finishers received a "long-sleeved, black, zippered, embroidered (Annapolis 10 Mile logo) winter high-tech running shirt." Very appropriate for the near 90 degree temperatures we were experiencing.

We then convened to our traditional "tailgate" party for some great snacks and refreshments. Thanks go out to all who provided the great snacks and especially to Dan Borrelli for the "brewskis!" Here are the RidgeRunner results: Roger Claussen 1:07:04, Steve Dodge 1:14:31, Rannveig Emerson 1:14:59, Dan Borrelli 1:12:53, Karen Merril 1:16:59, Dr. Pete Mendel 1:28:22, Tom Corris 1:24:21, Phil Silas 1:33:22, Bruce Tweedie 1:30:45, Pete Im 1:28:22, JC Nieves-Campos 1:36:17, Byron Galloway 1:38:38, Bob Cooper 1:38:13, Jason Hackerson 1:39:13, Burl Hickman 1:43:22, Laura Lisi 1:45:22, Jeanne Im, 1:40:37, Joe Malinowski & Mary McMurray 1:41:55, Darrell Stiles 1:45:11, George McVeigh 1:55:12 and Evelyn Sullivan 2:10:47.

Of the 5,500 registered runners, 4,302 finished the race!

Sunny skies and somewhat cool temperatures greeted several RidgeRunners in Hartwood, VA. The course was shady for the most part and very rolling. The results were as follows. Harry Wiggins 1:14, Pat Johnson 1:27 (2nd in age group), Vicki Crosby 1:30, Bob Phillips 1:38, and Mike Johnson 1:42. Congratulations to all.

Report by Phil Silas... it was like a dream come true to participate in "America's Ultimate Challenge" on the "World's Most Famous Mountain" last Sunday at the 2002 Pikes Peak marathon. I only went to crew for my brother, Mark, but jumped at the opportunity when it knocked just 15 minutes before the 0700 start. The race had sold out months ago as its the second oldest marathon behind only Boston, but one of Mark's friends did the Pikes Peak Ascent Saturday, and though registered, decided to pass on attempting to double. I was in the right place at the right time and quickly changed shoes, shorts, and shirt, pinned on my bib, filled my belt bottles with Gatorade and double-knotted my NB 804s as America the Beautiful was sung just before the start.

800 runners started on a cool, DRY morning up the quaint streets of Manitou Springs, elevation 6,700 feet toward Pikes Peak, 14,115 feet! This event was unfathomable for me just 3 years ago when I crewed for Mark, but that did jumpstart my running rebirth, and my sincere thanks go to him and all my running friends from the RidgeRunners, Virginia Happy Trails Running Club, and my work at Ft. Belvoir. Before reaching the end of the asphalt streets at the Cog RailRoad Station I followed the example of many around me and power walked to save the legs and keep from getting winded in the thin air. We reached the Barr Trail after less than 2 miles and the next 3 were virtually continuous steep switchbacks. I settled into a good pace and chatted with the others and found several that had events, clubs and other runner friends in common.

The aid was great throughout the course with PowerAde, water, pretzels, cookies and grapes. EMTs were on-hand for real emergencies and I'm thankful I only saw one person getting oxygen near the top. The volunteers were nearly the only people you see except at the start, top and finish and it was so nice the way they set up inspirational music at a few places. From the top of the switchbacks to Barr Camp, which is about 5.5 miles from the summit you could almost run if you're someone who's broken 11 hours at the Bull Run Run 50 mile trail run. I, on the other hand, walked as fast as I could, and just listened to my heart, and if I could hear it racing too high, I'd slow down.

Above Barr Camp (which I'd reached 3 times previously), I was in virgin territory, and the day became even more magical as I saw the vegetation change and caught views of the still-distant summit. At about 4 miles from the top a volunteer loudly proclaimed "Welcome to A Frame", and I was emotionally choked up realizing I'd actually be reaching the Peak on this beautiful day! The trees gave way to rocks and boulders and at 4 hours in I had just 2 miles to summit. Only 4 runners had passed on their way down and soon I met Mark, and he stopped long enough to share some pain relievers though they were more preventive as we both felt GOOD. Stopping to yield the narrow trail to down runners actually gave me lots of chances to enjoy the view, catch my breath, and save my legs. Finally reached one mile to summit and the extremely steep section highlighted by the 16 Golden stairs. Reached the top in 5:15 with the last 2 miles taking 1:15. I showed an EMT my swollen fingers and wrists, and he asked if I had any tingling in my arms, I did and he recommended bananas to replace electrolytes. Sat 8 minutes while eating 2 bananas and enjoying the view. I started down satisfied to have climbed my third 14er, and remembered my fine running friends lost this year, Bonnie Day and Don Frazier. I knew I'd need to be careful to keep it together even though it literally would be "All downhill from here!" I paused at the Cirque to confirm with a closer look that it does drop vertically 1,500 feet, and soon looked up in awe that I'd been to the top. Sat just once easing over the boulders and encouraged those that were still on the way up. Soon reached the A Frame and then bounded on the soft decomposed granite down to Barr Camp. Passed a lot of people who were walking and just let gravity pull me down a little faster. The switchbacks were really fun as I used the fence posts to help swing around the switches. Heard the last Cog RR coming into Manitou and left the trail with just under a mile to go! Eased down the asphalt and heard the crowd at the finish. The announcer called my number and there was Mark and family with a camera as I flashed an emotional smile and waved.

I finished in 8:04 which was just under 2 hours slower than Mark. We met for hugs and high fives while I was still overheated and nearly breathless from the final push. The temperature was now about 90 but my shirt was nearly DRY. Mark and I sat in the shaded recovery area with our medals while the kind volunteers brought water, grapes, bananas, cookies, etc. I poured a water over my hot, salty head and felt much better. We walked down to the park for some real post-race food, hoagies and potato salad and drove back. What an unforgettable day!

Recommend that anyone interested in 2003 register early and do either Catherine's or Catoctin 50K as a good climbing, rocky preparation. I found the lack of humidity in Colorado more than makes up for the lower oxygen level. The climb is exhilarating and the descent is relatively smooth.

Who let the cows out... moo, moo! Sunday morning brought sunny skies and semi-cool temperatures for the running of the 14th annual Leesburg 10K. This was probably the largest crowd ever. There were over 600 runners competing. The results were as follows: Steve Dodge 44:11, Vicki Crosby (running with Pat Johnson's number) 54:49 for 2nd in age group, Mike Johnson 58:47, Kristen Johnson 75:50, and Shane Johnson 76:07. Congratulations to all!

The Fredericksburg Downtown Mile was held on Sunday, July 28, and the RidgeRunners were well represented in the race and at the awards. Roger Claussen won the 50-54 age group with a 5:18; Harry Wiggins was second in the 50-54 age group with a 5:19; Bob Phillips ran a 7:41; Art Reynolds finished ran a 6:40 and finished 4th in the 60-64 age group. CONGRATULATIONS!

A small group of RidgeRunners ventured down to Boone, NC, for the 35th running of the Grandfather Mountain Marathon.  The marathon is billed as being the "toughest marathon in the US!"  They made their mark with some excellent times: Roger Claussen 3:58:00, Jodi Crisp 4:54:30, Mary McMurray 4:55:09, JC Nieves-Campos 5:09:17 and Joe Malinowski (44th marathon!) with 5:34:22.

Report by Joe Malinowski... as we left Lake Ridge on 7/12/02, the temperature was about 80 degrees at 10:00 AM.  The forecast for the weekend all along the east coast was temperatures in 80s and clear skies.  Looked like the makings for a beautiful weekend!  As we got closer to North Carolina the sky became completely overcast and the temp started to drop.  Don’t mind the temp dropping, but what’s up with these clouds?  When we arrived in Boone, NC, at Appalachian State University (ASU) it was already misting and the temp was in the low 60s.

We picked up our race packets at the football/track stadium and went up the mountain to check into our hotel, The Broyhill Inn.  Luckily I brought a printout of the email confirmation for our rooms because they had no record of our reservation.  Also, the clerk who sent me the email was the clerk standing across from me at the desk.  After checking his room inventory he assigned us our rooms and gave Kathy & I a suite.  The “suite” turned out to be the “Alumni Suite” that had two king-sized beds, a conference room for 12 people, wet bar, and sink vanity in the master bedroom… about the same square footage as our house!

The next morning we (myself, our daughter Jodi Crisp, Mary McMurray, Roger Claussen, and JC Nieves-Campos) took the trek down the mountain to the stadium for the 7:00 AM start.  When the starting gun went off we had to run two laps around the track in the stadium and then out and around the parking lot.  As we left the parking lot to go on the main street through campus there was a course marshal standing on the corner just saying, “hole,” as runners passed by. As we turned the corner there was a hole alright… deep enough to hold a Volkswagen!

We ran through the heart of the ASU campus and then turned right onto the highway for about a mile.  We then turned right into a Bojangle’s Chicken parking lot, through the lot, and then into the neighborhood on the edge of town.  The course began to just go up, up, and up as runners already began to power walk portions of the ascent.  The course then meandered up through the mountains to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Once on the Parkway we finally had a downhill… 2 miles!  Of course, what goes down must go back up, as this was the case all morning.

At approximately 9:30 AM, it began to mist, and then drizzle, then rain, then MONSOON!  Mary McMurray said it all, “Can it rain any harder!”  As we started our ascent again… the fog began to set in giving us visibility of about 25-30 yards.  After the Parkway portion we were now running on US 221 for the last 9 miles.  This portion of the course is a winding, up & down piece with virtually no road shoulder… just rock on the right and sheer drop-off on the left.  The rain, fog, and road coupled with the heavy vehicle traffic heightened our survival senses to an extremely high level.

For most of the latter part of the marathon, I ran with a few guys from New Jersey and a runner who called/dressed himself as the “COATMAN.”  He was about 6’3” and wore a denim long-sleeved jacket to his knees.  He also wore a dress shirt & tie and had pink surveyor ribbons tied all over the coat that flapped in the wind.  The back of the coat had “COATMAN” lettered into it.  He also wore bright yellow knee socks and dress shoes.  Yes, dress shoes… wingtips!  All the while he carried, like a waiter, a Domino Pizza box with a plastic water bottle stuck in the middle of it.  With all the rain, he said the coat weighed about 50 lbs.  I really didn’t want to ask why and he didn’t offer!!!  Apparently, he’s run Grandfather Mountain Marathon a few times through the years.

As my New Jersey friends & I approached the 25 mile marker a custom van with no headlights on is heading for us and nearly hits me with the side view mirror.  I yell a few obscenities and gave them a one finger salute and then the van nearly hits the runner about 10 yards behind me.  He responds the same as I, the van stops, and the passenger door opens.  We yell, “Bring it on, asshole!”  The door slams shut and the van peels away!  Go figure… ignorance, drunk, or just plain stupid!

We run past the entrance to Grandfather Mountain to Gate 3 and finish in the pouring rain in a very anti-climatic tent setting.  Someone takes my race tag; another places the medal around my neck, that’s it!  There’s a tent shelter (just a roof) on the left that has apples and cut bananas outside of the tent area in the rain!!!  Under the cover there is a table with loaves of bread and jars of jelly.  We have to make our own sandwiches and… NO PEANUT BUTTER!  Also, half of the drop bags from the runners are in the rain, to include Mary's!

Now get this, Kathy  & Jodi’s husband Michael had to buy a roundtrip shuttle trip so they could get up to the mountain for the marathon finish and back.  That’s not too bad since the cost ($8) included the $20 entrance fee for the Highlander Games.  The runners had to buy a one-way shuttle ticket ($5) back to Boone!  We get in line for the shuttle back to Boone and 2 hours 15 minutes later we FINALLY get on the shuttle that held 9 riders for the 30-minute ride back to Boone.  We were wet, tired, stiff, and cold!

Back at the Broyhill Inn we gathered later that evening in our “tiny” room for food & refreshments and replayed “dozens” of times the events of the day.  We sure are glad that’s over!!

What a hidden jewel the Capon Valley 50K proved to be on a cool, wet and rainy May day!  Most of the day before (Friday) it rained and rained.  Race day morning it literally poured the whole drive to West Virginia.  The countryside was a brilliant green and everything was in full bloom. The 31 miles of trail was routed through a major portion of George Washington National Forest and crossed streams approximately 15 times. 

 

Of course, due to the rains of the previous day and race day morning, the streams were "running" and knee deep at most crossings.  And the mixture of rain, trail and 150+ runners produced an abundant amount of MUD!  The stream crossings were actually an excellent opportunity to clean our shoes.  The trail had a few absolutely beautiful vistas.  At one point early in the run, we actually froze in our tracks as we came out of the forest tree-line to an opening to the valley.  I expected Julie Andrews and the cast of the Sound of Music to come up the mountainside at any moment.  TEAM LUNATIC did themselves proud and inducted a new member, JC Neives-Campos.  Results were: Phil Silas 6:09:46, JC 6:54:08 (his 1st Ultra!), George McVeigh 7:00:59, and Joe Malinowski, Kelly Bergenstock, Pat Johnson 7:01:29. Joe, Kelly, & Pat know a lot more about each other then they ever imagined! This race is definitely on our "tradition" list for next year!

Report by Kelly Bergenstock... undoubtedly, this will be the hardest race report I have ever written. I had this report mentally complete by the time the Dogwood was over. It's hard to recall highlights, challenges, and rewarding moments in the face of such a tragic day. Amy Riggio and I would like to honor Bonnie's memory by sharing the story of our first ultra with you. We invite you to lace up your running shoes and follow us on the most challenging run we have done thus far. 

So...what exactly do you call two runners who show up for a race without an entry, who choose a one-legged crew chief only to find out their run would be increased to 34 miles? You can now call us Lunatics, thank you very much! Amy and I did everything we could to get into the Dogwood to no avail. We decided to just show up to the race at 5:15am and take our chances. We paced anxiously around the camp looking for anyone who might give us a shot. We put our name on the list and kept an eye out for Bonnie and Tom. We finally found Bonnie bee-bopping around talking to folks that she knew. She reassured Amy and I that we would get in and not to worry.  

Bonnie asked us to walk with her to the bathrooms and we obliged. We figured maybe we'd find Tom. Common sense should have told us that Tom (being full of crap on a good day!) would be parked next to what can only be described as the nastiest smelling Porto John's ever! We were so happy to see him! Now we could "pirate" the trail even if we didn't get in. We raced back to the start to see if we had gotten in. The race director stated that no decisions were being made until 6:45am. Considering that the race started at 6:30am, this wasn't good news. Bonnie offered to wait but we sent her on her way. There were very strict cut-offs and we didn't want to hold her up.  At 6:45 we were graced with a number and sent on our way. First stop: Signal Knob.

The hike to Signal Knob was one of the hardest. We were under a tight cut-off and anxious to run. Unfortunately we were stuck behind a pack of about 50 "Happy Hikers" who just wanted to take things one- step at a time! NOT! I wasn't hip on trail etiquette and "Get the hell out of my way" didn't seem like a good option! Amy came through with the phrase of the day: "Pass left when you can." When we finally reached the 2-mile jeep trail to Signal Knob we were relieved. That was until we realized two things: 1. My butt back weighed a metric ton and 2. we only had 45 minutes to get there! Did I mention it's straight up hill? Yes, we made it! 5 miles down and........   The only thing that came to mind (from previous runs) about Signal Knob was peeing up there. Strange but true. We hoped to see Bonnie there but never expected her to wait. Finally we could run!

Amy did a great job navigating us down Signal Knob. We passed two guys who remarked: "Oh great, we are being passed by girls!" They went on to say that we shouldn't be running back with the old bald guys! Needless to say we put on our dancing feet! We were off to find Elizabeth's Furnace. We would finally see our one-legged crew chief! Tom informed us that we were the #8 and #9 women runners. We feared that only 10 women signed up! Originally we were running to finish. Now we were on the lookout for chicks to beat! The next leg of the run would be the most grueling. Some guy named Sherman decided to create a "gap" that was more like the stairway to heaven! This "gap" was a 2- mile climb straight to the clouds.

Amy and I managed to pick up a nice piece of "eye candy" along this stretch. Somewhere down the line we heard a voice from behind say, "Hey, let's stay with these girls, they have a good pace." I turned around to see two guys running behind us. One guy had fallen and was lagging behind and the other stayed with us. His name was Todd and he was quite the little Hottie! He runs with the Loudon County Road Runners Club and his Dad was working the race. Long story short, I was running in front, Todd in the middle and Amy behind. I was thinking he was gay, he was telling gay jokes and Amy was mentally marring us off! What a crew. Seems Todd was already married (2x), he wasn't in fact gay and his jokes were...well they were bad! He was the perfect companion. We climbed Sherman's Gap reluctantly. Emotions ran high behind that climb. I think "pissed off" would sum up most of them. When we reached the top the Dogwood sign was turned upside down. Thank God for Todd's sweaty map! We piled down the other side of Sherman's so-called Gap behind some guy boasting about the tuna lunch he was going to eat at aide #3. EEEEEWWW! Ahead in the clearing (and about 2 miles before schedule) we saw our savior....Tom! He gave me a great foot massage, offered Amy some much needed aide and listened to us complain. He wasn't prepared for "Tuna Guy" to plop down in his truck and take a load off! Tom graciously asked him to "remove his sweaty ass from the truck!" We forged ahead to aide #3. It was only 2 miles up the road but the gnats were terrible! They seemed to like my funk more than Todd and Amy's! Bonnie told me to stick cotton in my ears but of course I didn't listen. Tom offered to go and get us Cheeseburgers and cokes for aide #4.  Yummy! We moved through the aide station complaining about Sherman and his Gap! I cornered the race director with a karate chop and demanded and explanation. He offered up another 9.5 miles that wasn't so grueling. Before leaving aide #3 I had to get some things squared away with Todd: 1. I burp often and rarely say excuse me, 2. Amy passes gas thus she will remain in the back and 3. I tend to drop the F-bomb when provoked by large mountains. He seemed willing to continue so off we went!

The rain began to fall and offered some relief from the hot, humid and buggy day! The rain felt like Christmas. My feet were sore from rolling over rocks so I popped a couple hundred Advil. Amy followed suit and Todd refused my offer of drugs. As we continued up the mountain Todd questioned my new found strength. I attributed it to the Advil and he was sold. The next 9 miles were slippery, tiring, happy and frustrating. We stopped to eat and take a load off a couple of times. We continued in what was a long line of bad jokes to pass the time. We were pacing about 5 miles every 1.5 hours. Our aide was dwindling and we were getting tired. It was all about the cheeseburgers now! The rain came and went and each dose brought more bugs and heat. The terrain was getting more slippery and treacherous. As we passed through Veach Gap we noticed a runner had fallen from a ledge. We saw that medics were on the scene and decided to forge on. We had about 3.5 miles until Elizabeth's Furnace. At this point I was ready to throw Elizabeth in the damn furnace! As we began our decent, we passed several medics on their way up the mountain. We thanked them for their support and wished them luck. We approached the bridge to Elizabeth's Furnace and heard people cheering. Finally some support! We ran for our burgers and cokes. I managed to snort an onion through my nose (don't ask) and couldn't eat my burger! Tom informed us that the fallen runner was Bonnie. We didn't know the extent of her injuries and he insisted that Bonnie would want us to finish the race. We started out for the last 5 miles praying for Bonnie, for the rain to stop and for the day to be over!

Our moods continued to change. For some reason I felt strong and ready to roll. We ran a little, walked a little and passed a few girls on the way! We ventured past the point where Tom wrestled the snake (yeah!) and we knew we were close to the finish. As we crossed the 4 streams Todd suggested we just walk through them. I did so and boy did it feel great! My feet were so swollen. As we approached the finish we lined up to cross together. We heard cheers and were so glad to be done! We checked our ranking and found that we were 54 out of 234. Our main focus was to get changed and check on Bonnie. Amy and I stripped down outside her car. We were to tired to care. I do believe there is one very happy old fart running around somewhere! The parking lot had become a mud pit and we were having trouble getting out. We drove right through the finish line leaving part of Amy's car there! We rushed to Elizabeth's Furnace to get a report on Bonnie. It was at this point that we were made aware of the seriousness of her injuries. We were emotionally drained and we needed her strength.

Tragically, we all know how the day ended. What you may not know is the amazing strength that was displayed by three RidgeRunners that Day. Tom Corris was simply incredible with his support for all of the girls. His efforts to ensure Bonnie got the best care possible were nothing short of heroic. Words cannot describe the efforts he coordinated that day. On one leg he accomplished what most men couldn't with three. We appreciate you so much!

Joe Malinowski was also a hero to us that day. Joe dropped was he was doing, picked up Ron and drove him to the site. He offered comfort to all of us and waited for Bonnie until she came off the mountain. We all thank you so much for being there!

And last but never least is Ms. Bonnie Day. You are the reason that Amy and I ran the Dogwood. We both feel privileged to have been there with you. You were a strong runner who inspired others to do what they never thought possible. We never got to tell you but...we finished! You're the best.

In closing this report I need to share one last thought: If you guys don't realize what an amazing group of runners/people you are, allow me to tell each and everyone one of you that you are! We run because we are passionate competitors who enjoy the bragging rights to accomplishments that most people can only dream of. In this quest we assume risk as well as reward. May God bless the Ridge Runners and their families.

Report by Harry Wiggins... Boston Marathon, April 15, 2002. After running a qualifying time at the Austin Marathon in February 2001, I took the plunge and decided to run Boston. The day was fantastic... great weather, spectators and time. I joined the Greater Boston Track Club in order to do indoor speed work at the MIT Track in Cambridge since I now work in Boston. One of the perks was a luxury bus to within 200 yards of the start of the race. The weather cooperated even though the forecast was a start temperature of 52 and an ending temp of 70 with full sun; in actuality it was a near perfect day, the starting temp was 46, full cloud cover with an ending temp around 60, with the sun just starting to break through. The spectators were fantastic, the entire course from Hopkington to Boston was covered with a cheering throng (helps that Patriots Day is an official State holiday in MA), bands, screaming cheering people, just great.

Now for the results: Official Time: 3:16:21; Chip Time: 3:12:14, I am very pleased with the time. The start for the race is very well organized, that said, it took me 4:07 after the gun to cross the start line and I never actually ran a step for another 4 minutes due to the narrow two lane road and the press of 15,000 starters. I ran fairly close splits, even through the Newton hills: my 5K splits were: 26:29; 22:21; 22:17; 22:00; 22:06; 23:37(Start of Newton hills); 23:52; 23:02. I ran the whole way, only the second marathon where I did that, first was Marine Corps in 1981 where I did my PR. I finished in 2,851 place out of 14,137 finishers and 122 out of +/- 1700 finishers 50-59 age group. Steve Dodge also ran: Official time: 3:40:24; Chip Time: 3:35:05.

Well, TEAM LUNATIC Charter Members Joe Malinowski & George McVeigh went down to Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC to run the 50/100 Mile Endurance Run and came back with Team Lunatic's newest member, BOB PHILLIPS.  Bob finished his first ultra, the Umstead 50 Mile Endurance Run.  Joe finished in 12:20, George & Bob finished in 13:39. 

 

Report by Bob Phillips... Joe Malinowski, George McVeigh, and I ventured to Raleigh, NC to attempt the Umstead 50/100 Mile Endurance Run. Since I was the Rookie, I was nominated to write this report. We had great weather with the temp in the mid 50s and a slight breeze most of the day. The course is a 10 mile loop that the North Carolina Ultra Runners Association must have consulted with the RidgeRunners' own Tom Corris.  The course has a short but steep uphill at the start and it was all downhill with the exception of miles 49 and 50, but more on that later.

 

George and I ran most of the race together. We were both amazed at the different type of personalities and people that run ultras. With the loop course George and I saw and talked to most of the runners. There were of course the serious ones with their "race face" on, but most of the runners were talkative and appreciative of what everyone was attempting to accomplish whether they were a frontrunner or just trying to survive (that would be George and I).  Some of the runners were incredible. Joe ran into a couple from Montreal, Canada that he met at the JFK 50.  We met Jasper who was in the process of moving from Seattle to Los Angeles and decided to take the scenic route and run 100 miles in North Carolina on his way. Then there was the woman from Houston who was dressed entirely in red with lipstick to match. Her lips were so red that I overheard two women saying that she surely had them tattooed. Then, there was Jim from Orlando, FL.  His goal for the day was to talk to everyone in the race and learn their name. He felt that everyone had a place in the race and that would be his. He also pointed out that there would be a winner, some and a best dressed. Red was his choice, with a girl running in a swimsuit a close second, but it was his job to become friends with everyone. He was fast too.

 

I did not get much of a chance to talk to Joe about his day. Kelly ran the last 20 miles with him and he finished well ahead of George and I. As for my first ultra, things went remarkably well. I had a few doubts thru the first 20 miles, but things smoothed out after that. Running with George definitely helped and having his daughter, Blair, run the third lap with us was good. The aid stations were great and well spaced. Kathy Malinowski, Jean McVeigh, and Kelly Bergenstock were incredible help at the main aid station. Hydration was not a problem because of the cool weather. I made a few rookie mistakes, but most of them were easily overcome. Now here is the story of the previously mentioned miles 49 and 50. At 45 miles I felt great and was really excited about finishing. I told George that I felt better at that point than I did at any time during the day. But, as we all know things are not always what they seem. By mile 48 the sun had set, the temperature dropped and took my spirits with it. There was surely an error in the course mile markers. The last 2 miles were at least 7 miles long with a 90% slope. Somehow George and I stumbled through the darkness and finished. It was a long day, but well worth the effort. Compliments of one of our fellow runners, the most important thing I learned during the race was a shirt he wore that read: Never under estimate the power of stupid people in a large group!  I can't wait for the next ultra!

For the inaugural DC Marathon (for this course) about 8,000 runners started on the Memorial Bridge at 7:00 AM for a run through DC.  Mayor Williams welcomed all the runners to the race. It was a cool morning for a marathon as opposed to the 85 degrees in VA Beach just a week ago.  The race headed east through DC and past RFK stadium to Anacostia before turning back around to back to the District.  The half way point was back at the Lincoln Memorial.  It then turned north through Rock Creek Park and finished at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Ave in front of the National Theater.  For the most part the residents were cordial and very supportive of the runners.  Three RidgeRunners toed the line.  JC Nieves-Campos finished in 3:54 (third marathon in a month and a half), Tom Corris finished in 4:16, and Pat Johnson finished in 4:33.  Phil Silas and Mike Johnson were out on the course supporting our RidgeRunners. Congratulations to all.

As I'm typing out this report it's 39 degrees here in Lake Ridge and my sunburn from "yesterday's" marathon is still smarting.  What a difference a day makes!  Sportsfest Day was absolutely beautiful.  Saturday morning greeted us with temperatures in the 60s.  But, as the day went on it reached 85 degrees with 100% humidity.  I ran the first 18 miles with Kelly Bergenstock and Amy Riggio and Fort Story again proved it can make or break you.  We had little to no breeze and the pavement radiated the heat.  As we came back on the boardwalk at the 24 mile mark, the beach was as crowded as a June/July afternoon.  Most of the day all you heard were the sirens of the EMS units.  At the finish-line's first-aid station, all of the gurneys were filled with runners with IVs.  We were hot, thirsty, sweaty and crusty!  The heat took its toll on all of us, but the RidgeRunners met the challenge and celebrated at the Barclay Towers with pizza & refreshments. 

 

Here are the results:

 

(MARATHON) Tom Corris 4:15:48, Bonnie Day 4:32:27, Burl Hickman 4:50:51, JC 4:57:54, Amy Riggio 4:59:29, Kelly Bergenstock 5:01:03, Joe Riggio 5:01:07, Bob Phillips 5:01:30, Bob Cooper 5:15:34, Joe Malinowski (43rd marathon) 5:18:55, Florence Hamn 5:55:32, and George McVeigh (26th marathon) 5:56:37.

 

(MASTER 8K) Art Reynolds 39:40, Vicki Crosby 41:57, Pat Reynolds 62:15, Phil Gaddy 65:01, and Julie Gaddy 65:02.

 

(OPEN 8K) Karen Merrill (2nd in age group) 34:41, Pete Im 42:29, Jeanne Im 46:15, Don Frazier 52:42, Vicki Crosby 54:00 and Nancy Berry 69:48.

 

(5K WALK) Jean McVeigh 38:54, Kathy Malinowski 43:48 and Mary Nell Bergenstock (Kelly's Mom from Moravia, NY) 43:49.

 

Tom Corris said it best, "It was hot, it hurt, it's over...The End."

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Scenic, hilly 13.1 miles, starting on the College of William and Mary campus, through residential Williamsburg, then out the Carter's Grove Country Road, with a 2 1/2- mile loop in Kingsmill and the Busch Corporate Center, then back on the Carter's Grove Country Road to campus and a finish inside William and Mary Hall. Rated one of the "100 Best Road Races" by Runner's World Magazine. The 5K is entirely on the campus of William and Mary, also finishing inside William and Mary Hall. Time limits 2:30:00 for 13.1-miler, 45:00 for 5K. 

 

Report by Kelly Bergenstock... we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for the 2002 Colonial Half Marathon. Temperatures were in the 50's, the sky was filled with bright sunshine and the smell of Budweiser filled the air! The day began with a bit of excitement when we found the male Ridge Runners had taken over the ladies locker room (We believe Tom was behind that!)! We quickly redirected their "energy" to the start line for a team huddle. The course was everything we expected it to be....hilly! Tom, JC, and Pete took off with the front of the pack. The lovely aroma of vinegar and yeast lingered in the air from mile 4-6. Yummy! Burl saved up his reserves and flew past Kelly and Darryl around the six mile mark. When all the hills were accounted for, the entire team managed to turn in impressive times! We enjoyed bagels and beer and then headed to the Outback for a feast!

 

RidgeRunner times for the half marathon were: Tom Corris 1:44:38, JC 1:54:20, Joan Massaro 1:55:03, Pete Mendell 1:56:12, Burl Hickman 2:02:49, Vicki Crosby 2:07:07, Kelly Bergenstock 2:08:54, Darrell Stiles 2:09:35 and George McVeigh 2:25:35.  Don Frazier ran the 5K in a fine 29:12.  CONGRATULATIONS!

The Virginia Happy Trails Running Club (VHTRC) and Gary Knipling, also a member of the RidgeRunners, held their 11th annual EAGLE RUN along the trails of the Mason Neck & Pohick area.  This is a low-key event to introduce runners to trail running and to thank the many volunteers that help the VHTRC with their many events, i.e. Bull Run 50 Mile, Massanutten Mountain Trail 100 Mile, Women's Distance Festival Trail Half-Marathon.  This year the VHTRC recognized the RidgeRunners for their help over the years with the coveted "Eagle Award."  We in turn thanked our host, Gary, with a bottle of "runner's liniment" called Knob Creek Bourbon.

85 runners ran the beautiful Sunday morning and periodically looking for the "American Bald Eagle" that calls this nesting home.  The eagles didn't disappoint us.  They took to flight often and at times looked as if they were following us.  We also stopped at Gunston Hall, home of George Mason, and was given a history lesson by the Director of the grounds.  We then completed the final 1.5 miles to the Mason Neck parking lot for pizza and beverages.  A great day, event, people, fellowship and food... thanks to the VHTRC and Gary Knipling!

RidgeRunners who ran the Eagle Run were: Joe Malinowski, Tom Corris, Pat & Mike Johnson, Bob Cooper, Bob Phillips, Dave Crookston, Rob & Mel Saraniero, Jeanne Im, Bonnie Day, Mary McMurray, Phil Silas, Ernie Fore, and Joan Massaro.