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FLRC Newsletter - July 2004 |
| And What About Those IUTC Kids! | |
Long Distance Hall of Fame 5K: Ithaca United made the news in Utica as its newly formed 5K squad made its presence felt at the Long Distance Hall of Fame 5K and 1/2 Marathon on Sunday, May 23. Andris Goncarovs turned a few heads with his third place overall finish in the 5K with a time of 18:31. Other members of the 5K squad also did well, taking several top places in the 15-and-under age group, and all posted PR's for 5K road races.
Andris Goncarovs led the race for the first 1.5 miles,
until the eventual winner—Pat deRocco, a local Collegiate
runner—and one other runner reeled him in. Andris (age 12) survived
two attempts by the fourth-place finisher to over take him in the last
half mile. Other IUTC runners making big steps forward were Doug Moore
(age 11), who broke into the 21's for the first time, finishing in 21:48,
Christopher Van Loon (age 8; 24:12), and Alex Salton (age 11; 26:43). Van
Loon and Salton nicked off close to minute from their best 5K times
ever. About 220 runners were entered in the race, final results are
posted on the Utica Roadrunners website. The third-place price was a big
jar of caramel filled Hershey kisses, which were enjoyed by all on the
trip back to Ithaca. IUTC has several more 5Ks in store before spring
rolls over into summer: Waterloo, Memorial Day weekend; Tully the week
thereafter; and finally the FLRC's Twilight 5K on June 17 in Ithaca.
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Tully Moo York 5K: Where has all the MOO gone?—IUTC traveled to Tully this past weekend to run the rolling hills near Song Mountain. Coach G., Garrit Van Loon, and son Chris Van Loon made the trip this time. Final times were Chris Van Loon, 25:01; Garrit, 21:53; and Coach G., 22:03. Please note, this is a hilly course with a significant uphill at for the first mile. Garrit and Coach G. pulled down a 6:37 and 6:45 first mile and then, even with a downhill under us, we slowed 30 seconds or more on the next mile, proof that even downhills don't help you that much.
First the good, but sad, news: There were no cows to look at this year. I believe the dairy industry in New York is disappearing faster than we can believe. Tully lost two dairy farms on the course from last year. But the course was remarkably odor free this year. Rural Tully is going suburban.
Now the bad news: There is only one porta-john at the race, and it is half way up the Song Mountain slopes. It is a mile steep, warm-up jog to get there. Oh yes, the porta-john was leaning significantly towards the downward side of the mountain. Imagine Pisa here. I am still not sure why the Tully race organizers do this, but I think it must have to do with discouraging use of the "facility," because they may be on a weigh-as-you-go contract: If no one uses the space shuttle-shaped, bright-yellow loo, then it will weigh the same, and no dollars go to the man with the traveling head. Of course I am kidding. However, when sitting in that loo, one leg must be lodged against the far wall to keep from falling over. If you were to hit the side of the tilting loo, over it might go, with the help of inertia overcoming what little friction the loo skids have. Even the idea of being in a porta-loo that is falling, tumbling down the hillside—not just any hill, but Song Mountain's hillside—is entertaining. That is, if you are not the one in the loo thinking this might just happen! Remember the tilting bean game we all knew as kids? You drop beans, one at a time, on the opponent's lid, and eventually his lid tips over and spills the beans? Well you get the picture. Every visitor leaves a little more weight in the pot, until…
So, back to the race: Garrit took a quick lead and held old coach 5–10 seconds back through most of the race. At mile 2, Coach tried 5-second surges followed by 12- then 14- then 16-second rests. Coach closed the gap in the last mile, but a lunging dog, a flipping sweatband, and internal body distractions kept me from concentrating on surging longer. Garrit masterfully kept the distance between us and even plied a few extra lunges at the 3-mile mark to insure a well-deserved first victory over Coach. Good execution there Garrit! Not far back was Chris, who looked good on the last straight away. Tullyites were impressed with Chris as he was so small compared to everyone else. Most believed he would not complete such a long run. Running 5Ks, I believe, is still a new sport in Tully. Good run Chris and Dad. We had some fun, eh?
At the awards ceremony one of our 5K team members who could not be there was drawn for the grand prize raffle eight lift tickets to the loo. Actually, it was eight lift tickets for when it snows again and Song Mountain is open for business. But you had to be there to claim the prize. That's the way it goes sometimes.
I suggested a new name to the race director assistant for next year: Tully Loo York, noting the lack of cows this year. She is contemplating the change, I hear.
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