Author Archives: deshon

Delaware Distance Classic notables

14 Sunday Oct 2018

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Along with 163 other finishers, five Creek Road Runners opted for distance on the first weekend this month, competing in the annual Delaware Distance Classic 15K on October 7. Notable were…

  • photo of Bill FarquharCRR Bill Farquhar, who finished 10th overall in 57:44 (crushing the hour mark) and winning the 50-54 age group.
  • photo of Robert HeskethCRR Robert Hesketh of the South Jersey Athletic Club, who finished 33rd in 1:08:42 (7th among the 55-59s).
  • photo of Doug RepettiCRR Doug Repetti, who took 3rd in the 65-69 age group and 60th overall with a time of 1:20:10, the first time he’s taken an age-group award in this particular race.
  • photo of Theresa CannonCRR Teresa Kauffman, who finished in 1:27:54 (4th among the 55-59s).
  • photo of Julie BrewerCRR Julie Brewer, who completed the 15K distance in 1:36:10 (8th among the 55-59s).

Congratulations to each of you distance runners!

Webers (A and B) and Kukich blitz Main St. Mile

14 Sunday Oct 2018

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photo of Main Street Mile 2018 competitors

Andrew Weber (center) and Bruce Weber (in blue singlet at left) finish in the top ten.

Nearly 700 participants showed up on October 6 for the annual Main Street Mile, contested here in Newark on the straightaway between the east end of East Main and the Deer Park Tavern. There were three Creek Road Runners among the standouts in the race.

First of all, CRR Andrew Weber and CRR Bruce Weber (no relation, other than similar top-end speed) both cracked the top ten. “Weber A” finished 7th in 5:13.8 (5:12.9 chip), taking 2nd in the 30-39 age group, and “Weber B” finished 10th in 5:18.4 (5:16.9 chip) while winning the 50-59s and notching the highest age-grade score of any of the competitors at 85.1*.

The second highest age-grade score was turned in by CRR Diane Kukich at 83.1*, by virtue of her 7:41.0 finishing time (7:31.2 chip). Kukich won the 65-69 age group.

*A score between 80 and 89 is considered “national” class.

Son of CRR completes Ironman

04 Thursday Oct 2018

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Leave it to the next generation. Those of us who are now in the twilight of our running years can now take a major degree of solace in the successes of our children (also see previous post).

Ironman Maryland logoNoah Olson, son of CRR Tom Olson, recently completed the Ironman Maryland competition on Sept. 29. His official time was 13 hours, 6 minutes, 23 seconds, including transition times. He finished in the top half (31st) in his age group (25-29), gender grouping, and overall.

photo of Noah OlsonOlson had a plan for the day, which unfolded pretty much like he had hoped it would. His time for the 2.4-mile swim was 1:21:22. Then he hit the bike for the long and draining 112-mile distance. His bike time was 6:28:20, an overall average of 17.38 mph, which is super. The challenge was for him to keep the bike leg within reason so as to have enough left in the tank for the marathon. He did so, completing the marathon distance (26.2 miles) in 4:50:02.

According to the elder Olson, who recently completed the local Top of Delaware Sprint Triathlon, “The two transitions were 13+ and 12+ minutes each, as [Noah] took time to stretch, eat, etc. He looked and said he felt good at the finish. I am sure that taking a few extra minutes during the transition was very helpful. It was pretty inspiring to be at various stages of the race and watching and cheering on all the athletes out there demonstrating true grit!”

Son of CRRs goes sub-4

04 Thursday Oct 2018

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Sam Parsons, son of CRR Christina Parsons and CRR George Parsons, achieved a personal milestone recently and became the first Delawarean to run a sub-four-minute mile. In fact, he was so juiced that he did it twice in one week in major races.

The following is an excerpt from the official race website of the annual New York Road Runners Fifth Avenue Mile, contested on September 9, 2018.

Newark’s Sam Parsons leads the pack in the 2018 NYRR Fifth Avenue MileIn the men’s race, Sam Parsons bolted to an immediate 5-meter lead, his mind clearly on the halfway leader’s bonus. He hit the first quarter in 57 seconds, while the pack, led by Johnny Gregorek, came through in about 59. Defending champion Nick Willis of New Zealand, seeking his fifth title in this event, was in the center of the chase group, patiently waiting for the real racing to begin.

Parsons reached the half mile in 2:00 with a 10-meter cushion on the field, but that gap quickly disintegrated. Just past three-quarters of a mile (3:00), the pack swallowed up the leader, with Chris O’Hare of Scotland making a bold surge to the front from the far right-hand side of the course. [Scotland’s Jake] Wightman, Willis and Neil Gourley, yet another Scot, covered the move best.

Wightman seized the lead in the final 200 meters, and held off Willis for the win, 3:53.5 to 3:54.2. Gourley (3:55.3) took third, with American Eric Avila (3:55.5) and Aussie Sam McEntee (3:56.0) rounding out the top 5. Parsons was only 14th (3:57.7) but scored his early-leader payday [$1,000] by meeting the sub-4:00 finish requirement. Olympic 1500 gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz didn’t factor in the final sprint and placed 16th in 4:00.2.

Just four days earlier, Parsons had broken the 4-minute barrier for his first time, finishing in 3:59.7 and placing 10th in the Hoka One One Long Island Mile. He runs professionally for Tinman Elite out of Boulder, Colo., and is sponsored by Adidas.

photo of Sam ParsonsA Newark, Del., native and 3200m state record holder, Parsons ran locally while at The Tatnall School and then went on to log a stellar collegiate career at North Carolina State. In June, he competed in the USA Track & Field Championships in the 5000m final, where he actually led the race with 800 meters to go.

Mom and Dad need to help him work on his finishing kick (just kidding).

Webers shine in recent local races

02 Tuesday Oct 2018

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photo of Bruce Weber finishing race

Making great strides (no pun intended) recently in lowering his 5K times, 57-year-old CRR Bruce Weber punched through the 19-minute threshold in the 10th Annual Cindy Foundation Ovarian Cancer Research 5K in Wilmington, held on September 23.

Weber’s time was 18:43, just a couple seconds over a 6-minute-per-mile pace, lopping off nearly 45 seconds in his 5K times since early summer! He placed second overall and was the first masters finisher in this lightly contested race.

photo of Andrew Weber in Lederhosen Half MarathonIn Newark’s inaugural Lederhosen Half Marathon last Saturday, 38-year-old CRR Andrew Weber blitzed the course that covered most of the city, having to follow only a motorcycle and/or cyclist marshal, in 1:22:22. The younger Weber (no relation) won the race outright among 352 finishers.

photo of Doug RepettiAlso competing in the Lederhosen Half were two other Creek Road Runners. CRR Doug Repetti, who took 3rd in the 60-69 age group in 1:54:45, finished 59th overall and was 18th among 56 masters runners. photo of Julie BrewerOn the women’s side, CRR Julie Brewer was 90th out of 226 women finishers and the 30th masters woman out of 110, clocking in at 2:19:23.

photo of Diane Kukich and Rachel StricklandTwo others, CRR Diane Kukich and CRR Rachel Strickland, got into the act as volunteer bicycle-riding course marshals.

And on this bright, beautiful fall morning, CRR Mark Deshon got to watch the race roll right by his house and cheer on the competitors.