|
|
FLRC Newsletter - Jul 2003 |
| Freihofer's Run for Women | |
There is a place like Camelot where all girls and women who run are treated with respect and equality.
It's called the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K, presented each year in Albany at the Empire State Plaza.
The 25th annual edition, held May 31, was officially sanctioned the USA Women's 5K Championship for elite open and masters runners. This year, a record 3,289 runners crossed the finish line, while thousands of spectators cheered every step.
Marla Runyan, 34, of Eugene, Ore., defended her national title in 15 minutes, 25 seconds -- just one tick short of Lynn Jennings' course record 15:24, set in 1995. Runyan, a 2000 Olympian in the 1,500 meters, is legally blind and raced to victory by memorizing the layout of the 3.1-mile course.
Three-time Olympian Colleen De Reuck, 39, of Boulder, Colo., was second in 15:41, and 27-year-old Blake Russell of Medford, Mass., was third in 15:43.
Carmen Ayala Troncoso, of Austin, Tex., won the national masters title in 16:47, also the top age-graded time of the day. The 44-year-old Troncoso has raced in 12 Freihofer 5Ks and claimed three masters championship victories there.
The last-place finisher posted a time of 85:03, and the person who finished exactly in the middle of the pack recorded a time of 30 minutes. All masters runners wear their ages on their backs, so you always know whom you're chasing.
You're running at top speed, with teens on your left, seniors on your right and about 100 females running the exact same time you are running.
Just take a look at some of the following incredible age-group performances.
A 12-year-old, Briana Jackucewicz of Farmingdale, N.Y. won the 14-under division in 17:45. Nicole Blood of Saratoga Springs, Molly Huddle's former nemesis, won the girls 15-19 title in 17:19. The first 45-49 age-group winner clocked an 18:51. FLRC's Shirley Woodford of Burdett, the 2002 women's 45-49 national champion, finished fifth this year in 20:52. World record holder Kathy Martin, 51, of Northport, N.Y., won my age group in 18:16. The first five women in that 50-54 age division were sub-20 minutes! I placed 12th in this age division, with a F50 personal best of 22:38. Margret Betz of Conklin won the women's 65-69 age-group title in 22:59, and Anny Stockman of Albany won the 70-74 division in 27:36.
Sandy Folzer, 64, who lives in Mansfield, Pa., during the summer, and Philadelphia the rest of the year, was one of the invited senior elite athletes. A nationally-ranked runner in distances from the 5K to the half marathon, Folzer recently won the Twin Tiers Race for the Cure 5K Breast Cancer Survivor Division for the second time. She also is an eight-time winner of the Philadelphia Race for the Cure Breast Cancer Survivor Division; runner-up in the 2002 Boilermaker 15K senior divison; and senior division winner of the 2002 Philadelphia Distance Classic Half Marathon.
Folzer placed third overall among women ages 60-64, in a time of 23:51. She missed second place by six seconds, and claimed the third spot by a mere four seconds. Marie-Louise Michelsohn, 61, of Stoney Brook, won the F60 national champion title in 20:24.
"I did love the race," said Folzer, who received accomodations, meals and a complimentary entry as an invited athlete. "What stands out is seeing so many older women competing, and they looked so good! It was inspirational to be in the elite tent with such classy women. There was Joan Benoit Samuelson and Marla Runyan all hanging out in the same place. (Elite seniors) Margret Betz, Joy Hampton and I did our warm up together, and we were all so supportive of one another."
As the race was ready to go, Folzer lined up near the front, with the other elite senior runners.
"I can't remember being so tense or anxious before a race for a long, long time, maybe ever," Folzer said. "I felt pressure because I was invited, but given my injury (foot), I tried to set realistic goals, which helped me feel good at the end. Margret kept telling me just to 'have fun.'
"The course was very nice, especially in the park," she said. "During the middle of the race, I kept telling myself to run like Marla. I had seen the video of her past race over and over again at meal time, so I thought it would help if I could run like her, even if only in my imagination."
For FLRC's Katie Danner of Alpine, the Freihofer's 5K exceeded anything beyond her imagination. The 29-year-old, mother of four placed 61st overall in a personal-best time of 18:44. Danner won the Twin Tiers Race for the Cure on May 18 in 18:59.
"I thought Freihofer's was the best 5K I have ever been to -- very classy!" said Danner, who also won her age-group at the 2002 Wineglass Marathon. "Being around that many elite athletes and good runners was a great experience. Every woman runner should go and experience it, and I will definitely do it again next year. I especially loved seeing men pushing strollers with screaming kids, while all the women were having fun."
Also representing the Twin Tiers -- all hailing from Horseheads, were Kathy Carbaugh (30:38), Ada Johnson (31:20) and Carole Crean (34:09).
The next time you have a craving for cookies or cupcakes, remember that Freihofer's has supported women's running for 25 straight years. Nothing could be sweeter than that!
[This article originally appeared in the (Elmira) Star Gazette.]
| Prev Article | Front Page | Next Article |