Cabell's long legs carry him to 14:54

Our long-limbed lad Cabell ran 14:54 this afternoon at the Fred Hardy Invitational at the University of Richmond. In running less than five seconds off his PR for second place, he also outclassed two former VMI teammates.

Willis, seen here wearing an idiotic fake mustache, debuted with GRC with a second place finish at the St. Pat's 5k earlier this month. Maybe someday he'll get around to winning a race for us.

Wednesday workout, March 25, at AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

RACES

We had some strong performances at 5 miles this weekend. At Van Metre, Shauneen continued her impressive return to fitness with a 29:38 on a course that is most likely long by about 100 meters. Whatever the actual race distance, Shauneen and a professional Ethiopian were separated by mere inches at the finish, with Shanuneen crossing the line in front. In their wisdom, the race officials awarded first place to the other runner based on a faster chip time, but that dubious decision does not diminish the fact that Shauneen broke the tape against very strong competition. As Shauneen continues her progress, we're going to see her running to victory on a regular basis. On the men's side, Outlaw ran a very controlled 25:45 for second, followed by Klim in 25:55 for third. Pat Kuhlmann, who is easing back into racing following his outstanding performance in the full at Houston in January, was fourth in 27:22, followed by Zak in fifth in 27:45. In Virginia Beach, Matt Rand ran a solo 25:31.

WORKOUT

We're at American University this week, and we need to get going at 6:50, so that we can finish the workout before it gets dark (for those of you who have never had the pleasure, AU has no lights, and the campus police will kick us off once it gets dark). Those taking the metro can meet up at Charlie's house and stash your stuff. Plan to meet by 6, and the procession will roll by 6:10. For those who are driving to AU, meet for the warm up at 6:05 at the gazebo on the side of the track.

I'll see you at American on Wednesday.

Jerry

Kuhlmann honored in Runner's World

Runner's World cited our own Patrick Kuhlmann in this article as one of the best masters runners of the year for 2014. Among other notable performances last year, Kuhlmann ran 1:11:33 at the RNR DC Half Marathon and 1:12:18 in Philly. Coach Jerry has gone on record to predict that Kuhlmann will be in the top three for his age group nationally in 2015. Runner's World paints a flattering picture of the D.C. Master's running scene by ranking Philippe Rolly, Michael Wardian, and Edmund Burke among the best masters runners in the country.

Five Mile Fun

Matt Rand kicked off a rash of five mile races for the team at the TowneBank 8k in Virginia Beach, running 25:32 for seventh place.

In Ashburn, Outlaw led the way at the perennial GRC haunt, the Van Metre 5 Miler, running 25:45 and finishing second. The Red Fox finished third, 10 seconds behind him, followed by Pat Kulhman in 27:22 and Zak Miller in 27:45. Shauneen was just four seconds off the women's victory in 29:38. Jake, Zak and Shauneen combined to win the team competition and were awarded the deed to Glory Days Grille or whatever has replaced it in that shopping center, and a voucher for a more original joke because I think I've made that one a few times. 

Klim Kaptures Third at Kelly's Shamrock 5k

Today in Baltimore, Klim finished third at the Kelly's Shamrock 5k after controlling the race and setting the pace. The finish came down to the wire. Reports are that conditions were extremely breezy, and not in the overwhelmingly positive sense that most people associate with the word "breezy." Mercer and Fridge also had strong results.

3. Klim (15:19)
5. Mercer (15:33) 
10. Fridge (16:28)

Flash: Ban Breaks 1:11 in NYC

Breuters Wire Services

Sources in New York report that Charlie Ban ran 1:10:47 this morning in the New York Half Marathon, a PR of 9 seconds. Ban, seen above (file photo not from race), has set at least three PRs at the half marathon distance in the past two years. His success owes to the consistency of his hard training - Ban has been getting after it week after week and month after month.

Also, Emily Young PRed at the Tobacco Road half in 1:24:19.

Blur runs 1:11 in half marathon debut

Updated results:

MEN

8. Sean O'Leary - 1:11:51
9. Paul Balmer - 1:11:59
31. Lavar Curley - 1:17:24
34. Brian Young - 1:17:51


WOMEN

12. Maura Carroll - 1:23:34
14. Teal Burrell - 1:23:57

Chelsea wins Bright Beginnings 5k

Chelsea ran 18:24 to win the Bright Beginnings 5k Saturday morning in 18:24 on the old West Potomac Park out'n'back. She came in third overall. Tina was two seconds back for second female.

Wednesday Workout, March 4

RACES

Frances's 12th place finish in the 2 mile at the USATF Indoor Champions was a historic moment for GRC.  Frances went toe to toe with the top names in the sport and did not back down, and I could not have been more proud of her.  Frances continues to raise the bar of what is possible for a GRC athlete to achieve, and her accomplishments have not only raised the profile of GRC to the outside world, they have also helped her teammates set higher expectations for themselves.  I'm really excited to see Frances continue to kick tail in the future while wearing GRC blue! 

As an added bonus, the USATF schedule allowed me to attend Heps at Harvard for a few hours, where I saw Phil win the alumni mile in a solo 4:21.8, closing in sub 32, and Cecilia crush the loaded field in the 800 with a huge kick coming off the final turn.  It was a memorable weekend on the indoor track and those 3 excellent performances are harbingers of great things to come.

We also had strong performances in difficult conditions at the St Paddy's Day 5k and 10k. Cabell made a promising GRC debut in 15:53. Cabell is a young runner with a major upside who will be a great addition to our track group this spring, and he will have a real chance to make our A team in cross country in the fall.  Also in the 5k Fridge ran 16:08 and Shauneen continued her impressive return to fitness in 18:27 despite struggling with her footing.   In the 10k Charlie led the way in 32:31, followed by Sean O in 32:50 and Breezy in 35:56.  Mary Grace made a strong seasonal debut in 40:21, and she is on her way to regaining the form that made her a star at Michigan.

WORKOUT

It is highly likely we will be able to get on the track at BCC tomorrow.  The track is currently clear enough to do a workout (the shoveled path is not real wide at certain points, but it's wide enough to be useable) and anything that comes down tonight should melt tomorrow, so let's plan to meet at 6:30 for the warmup, and we'll roll at 7:15.  A word of caution--the stadium stairs are treacherous, so please be careful going down to the track.

I'll send the women's workout separately.

See you at BCC tomorrow.

Jerry

DEVELOPING: Sunday Results 3/1

Indoor Heps Alumni Mile
1. Phil Royer - 4:21.8 (solo from the gun, closing in 31.xx)

St. Patrick's Day 5k
2. Cabell Willis - 15:55
3. Matt Hassett - 16:10

4. Shauneen Werlinger -18:27

Courtesy of Pacers' Twitter Page

St. Patrick's Day 10k
3. Charlie Ban - 32:31
5. Sean O'Leary - 32:50
17. Brian Young - 35:56

9. Mary Grace Pellegrini - 40:21

Courtesy of Pacers' Twitter Page

USATF Indoor championships
Two Mile
11. Frances Koons 10:09.32

FLASH: Wiggy Engaged!

Weekend Preview

This Sunday, Frances will race the two mile at the USATF Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track in Roxbury, MA.  Judging by the following from Coach Jerry, she's ready to roll: "After her low key tuneup at Princeton, Frances is ready to get after it in Boston.  She has not shown what she can do indoors yet this season, as she was sick in New York, and Princeton was a workout, but it should be all systems go on Sunday.  Frances has run indoor nationals several times, so she knows what to expect. Although the winter weather has been less than ideal for her preparation, she's looking forward to giving it a go."  Frances' race is live on NBC Sports Network at 5:09pm on Sunday, so you can follow along from home.  

Also on Sunday, Phil will race the Indoor Heps alumni mile at Harvard's indoor track, and there will be a big GRC crew in action at the Pacers St. Patrick's Day races in D.C.  Shauneen, Dave O., Stewart, Fridge, and Cabell are currently slated to run the 5k, and Mary Grace, Sean O., Charlie, Zak , and Breezy are slated to run the 10k.  Cabell and Zak will be racing in the GRC singlet for the first time.  

Best of luck (of the Irish and otherwise) to all GRC athletes racing this weekend.  

 

Report: new jackets good in snowy weather

The Capital Weather Gang retweeted this photo by a Nathan Jones this morning

Coach Jerry's Recap: GRC at Princeton

While the weather precluded our team debut at the RRCA 10 Miler, the conditions were perfect indoors for individuals at Princeton.  It's a special day when every race goes the way we planned it, and we were 4 for 4 on Sunday.  Dickson ran a humungous 11 second PR of 8:52 in the 3000, and to put into perspective just how big a breakthrough that was, consider that Dickson is a marathoner who is not known for his leg speed, and who has not raced seriously on the track for 10 years.  He decided to take a break from the long stuff on the roads and run a full track season, and to say he's thrown himself into it would be a gross understatement.  Dickson ran with total commitment on Sunday, and he has set himself up to run times outdoors that would have seemed impossible two months ago.  On the women's side, we had an excellent GRC debut from Chelsea, who ran 10:27 for 3000.  This was Chelsea's first track race in 7 years, and her first serious race effort in almost as long, and she executed her race plan perfectly, and finished with a very hard final 200, proving that there's a lot more gas in the tank.  Chelsea is going to be an outstanding addition to our track group, and she will be setting her sights on GRC top 5 times in the 1500, 3000, and 5000 this spring.

The other two races that went according to plan were from Frances, who ran the mile and 3000 as a tuneup for the USATF indoor champs 2 mile on Sunday.  Frances started with a very controlled 4:53 mile, and followed that with an equally controlled 9:41 3000, closing in 33 for the last 200.  What impressed me most about Frances's day was not that she crushed the club record in the 3000 in what was nothing more than a workout for her, but that in both races she enthusiastically agreed to pace Division III athletes looking for NCAA qualifying times, and then spent time with both of the athletes afterwards to give them the benefit of her experience.  Frances's willingness to give back to the sport on a day when she would have been fully justified in worrying only about herself showed me why she's a perfect fit for GRC.  She's going to let it rip on Sunday, so be sure to watch the live broadcast (5:09 pm on NBC Sports Network) of what is sure to be a great performance.

FLASH: GRC throwing it down at Princeton

MILE
Frances - 4:53.86, about 13 seconds ahead of second-place finisher

3000m
Frances - 9:40, a controlled victory
Chelsea - 10:26 (GRC debut)

Dickson - 8:52.7 (huge PR, was in the mix for the victory with a lap to go)

The Mobot

Fosbury's Flop.  Bannister's Mile.  Shorter's Gold Medal. I, for one, would put the invention of the Mobot among these seminal track & field achievements.  

Cell Phone Field No More?

GRC SPECIAL REPORT --- The fate of the WMAL Towers Field, known affectionately in GRC circles as "Cell Phone Field," rests with the bigwigs at Cumulous Media, the owner of the property. According to local news reports, the "75-acre transmitter site in Bethesda was placed on the market earlier this week, the first step in what will likely be the area's largest redevelopment project in years." 

It's estimated that the green space could accommodate upwards of 300 homes and that the property, reportedly worth "hundreds of millions," is amongst some of the most coveted residential real estate in the entire country.

Of course, the property is also a major playground for dog walkers, neighborhood children and cross country aficionados.

Sean O'Leary, GRC harrier and lifelong Bethesda resident, remarked, "I can't even begin to estimate how many times I've run around that field. It's such an ideal training resource, with a great balance of soft terrain and gently rolling hills. I don't know who is more heartbroken from this news - me or the seemingly countless number of dogs that utilize the area as a communal bathroom."

Understanding the magnitude of the situation, Coach Jerry Alexander lamented, "we may have to find other options (for workouts) in the not too distant future."

To read more about the history of this field, please visit:

http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se5/036000/036300/036389/pdf/msa_se5_36389.pdf

UPDATE: The GRC Treasurer notes that the club's coffers lack the necessary funds to place a realistic offer on the property.

DEVELOPING...

Weekend Preview:

GRC Athletes Hit the Grass, Road, and Track

Tomorrow in the thin air of Boulder, Colorado Sean Barrett will race the USATF Cross Country Championships as a member of the Marine Corps team.  Sean, a cross country ace who has twice qualified for and competed in the World Military Cross Country Championships, has battled through injuries recently but is getting back into shape.  According to Coach Jerry, "Sean is not expecting miracles on Saturday but he certainly will give it his absolute best effort, as he does every time he races."  In advance of tomorrow's race, running legend Kenny Moore wrote an article on cross country racing that not only features a picture of Frances competing in the GRC blue and white, but will probably get you pumped to run some cross country next fall if you read it.  Check it out here.   

Much closer to home, GRC will have a big crew at Sunday's Love the Run You're With 5k on the Arlington roads.  Sara, Shauneen, Kevin, Jake, Kyle, Charlie, and Sean O'Leary will all race.  It will be Shauneen's first time racing in the GRC jersey, and Coach Jerry had this to say about her debut: "Shauneen is Division III royalty, having won 4 NCAA titles at Amherst, including the amazing steeple, 5k, 10k triple outdoors in 2007.  Her expectations for Sunday are modest, as she gave birth to her daughter in November, but as she returns to full fitness, she will be a major contributor to our women's team." 

Last but not least, Wiggy, Dickson, and Stewart will race the mile on the indoor track at the Prince George's Sportsplex this Sunday.  It will be Stewart's first track race for GRC, and all three athletes will be aiming for high places and fast early-season times.  

Wednesday workout, February 4

RACES

Congratulations to Frances for her club record 10:06.2 2 mile at the Armory Invitational, which qualifies her for the USATF indoor championship in Boston on March 1. Frances's goal going into the meet was to get a nationals qualifier, and what seemed like a sure thing at the beginning of the week became an epic struggle when the head cold she had been fighting off took a turn for the worse on Friday. Despite being far from 100 percent, Frances got after it against a national caliber field, and even with severe difficulty breathing during the second mile, she fought to the finish and got her qualifier. With the mission accomplished, Frances will take some time to get healthy, and then it's back to work as she gets ready to roll at Nationals. Well done!

WORKOUT

We caught a break on the weather and not only will the track be clear on Wednesday, it should be relatively warm, so don't miss the fun. We'll get going at 7:15 as normal, so meet for the warmup at 6:30.

Looking ahead, we will have practice on the track Saturday for those of you who are not racing on Sunday.

I'll send the women's workout separately.

See you Wednesday at BCC.

Jerry

NEWSFLASH: Frances Qualifies for USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships!

Yesterday at the Armory, Frances ran 10:06.2 in the Two Mile Run to punch her ticket to the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston later this winter, despite fighting a head cold all week and having trouble breathing before the race. 

She was through the mile in 4:56 and ran solo the second half of the race, before throwing down a strong last lap to hit the qualifying standard.  Here's Coach Jerry's take on Frances' achievement: "Frances proved her toughness once again by achieving her goal of qualifying for nationals under very difficult circumstances.   At full strength and with four weeks of training under her belt, she will be ready to make some noise at nationals."