It’s great for those of us who no longer run races every weekend to simply pick and choose from a plethora of events each week, the vast majority of which support worthy causes (never mind just racing for the fun of it).  Once a fixture at weekend races back in the late 1990s, CRR Diane Kukich races sparingly now but picks her spots, and she does so with her “eyes on the prize.” She seems to like the women-only races and on September 12th won her age group (60-64) in the Pink Ribbon 5K with a time of 25:56, placing 55th out of the 539 females who competed.

From flat road 5Ks to grueling trail marathons, the Creek Road Runners have been active at the end of the summer.

This past Saturday CRR Dan Simmons won his age group (65-69) at the 37th Annual Bottle & Cork Ten Miler in Dewey Beach with a 1:13:23, placing 55th overall out of 359 runners. Simmons recently completed the popular Annapolis Ten Mile Run in 1:14:34.  In doing so, he placed 2nd out of 34 in his age group and 240th out of the more than 3,400 runners at that race.

CRR Tripp Shenton also ran the Bottle & Cork Ten Miler, coming in with a time of 1:16:51, good for 64th overall.

This past Sunday, CRR Cole Galloway ran Stumpy’s Marathon, a difficult trail marathon in the nearby Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, organized by the Trail Dawgs. Galloway ran with his son, Nathan, and managed a 6:05 finish. A long time to be out on the trail on a warm day, but he said there were, “lots of food, friendly smiles, and encouragement at each pitstop.” He added, “Overall even more wonderful given that this is and has always been a free event.”

CRR Mark Deshon (50-59) and CRR Bob Taggart (70+) each won their respective age groups at the Cindy Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research 5K on the Riverfront in Wilmington.  Deshon’s time was 20:32 and Taggart’s 24:47 for the flat course.

Wait, there’s more!

CRR Jay Coughenour qualified for the Boston Marathon with an insanely good 3:02:12 at the Lehigh Valley “VIA” Marathon, held last Saturday. Congratulations! At the same venue, CRR Keith Crispin ran the half-marathon in 1:29:04—a super time. There weren’t many spectators along the way. In fact, of the course, Coughenour said, “It was like running Creek Road for 26.2 miles.”

On the distaff side, CRR Theresa Kauffman won her age group in the Charm City 20-Mile NCR Trail Race in Hunt Valley, Md., on September 1 and last Saturday won her age group in the Diamondman Sprint Duathlon (biking and running) at Lums Pond in 1:48:43. Well done!

CRR Dan Simmons

Nine Creek Road Runners successfully completed the inaugural Top of Delaware™ Triathlon yesterday at the Newark Reservoir.  The course featured a triangular quarter-mile swim course in the reservoir, a tough 11.4-mile bike loop on Newark-area roads, and a uniquely challenging 2.6-mile run that started at the foot of the reservoir, included portions of the reservoir and William Redd Park trails, and came back down to the foot of the reservoir before finishing with a nasty 50-yard incline straight up the steep side of the reservoir.

CRR Jennifer Pyle

CRR Dan Simmons (65-69) and CRR Jennifer Pyle (55-59) took the spotlight, as each won his/her age division, Simmons finishing in 1:22:57 and Pyle in 1:26:49.  Simmons, who is experienced in duathlons, hasn’t had experience as a competitive swimmer, so he was very glad to get that portion of the competition behind him.

CRR Rich Braun took second place among the 50-54s in a time of 1:21:02, finishing 99th overall out of the 317 finishers and tops among the Creek Road Runners.  Braun has recently come back into shape after having suffered a nasty biking accident.  When asked how the swim went, he said, “I couldn’t see much, and the water didn’t taste good.”

CRR Rich Braun

Other finishers included CRR Theresa Kauffman (50-54; 1:21:18), CRR Ryan German (35-39: 1:22:20), CRR John Sarmousakis (50-54; 1:24:41), CRR Mary Braun (50-54; 1:30:40), CRR Becky George (50-54; 1:32:11), and CRR Bruce Hubbard (65-69; 1:37:50).

It looks like the Top of Delaware™ Triathlon will become an annual event on the triathlon circuit.  It also seems like all the participants had fun and welcomed the challenge….  At least that’s what the impression was after it was all over!

Wow, CRR Mark Deshon does a 10K and wins his age group?  Believe it.  Deshon put in a couple days of (what, for him, constitutes) longer training runs up in Maine before uncorking a 43:56 at the Maine Lobster Festival 10K today.  He finished 21st overall out of more than 300 runners on the beautiful oceanside course in Rockland, Maine.

“The fresh morning sea air really helps, and it was a clear day with little humidity,” Deshon said. “Perfect conditions for my first 10K in nearly five years.”  With the plaque he received for his 50-59 age group win, he now has a matching set with the one he won 16 years ago.

Though he grew up in Salisbury, Md., and has lived most of his life near Creek Road in Newark, Mark was born in Rockland.

It was a banner day, both weather-wise and results-wise, on Creek Road. Seven Creek Road Runners won their respective age groups, two recorded age-group seconds, and one took an age-group third among the 321 finishers.

CRR Bill Rose and CRR Mark Deshon share a podium moment with YoUDee.

Leading the way, with the best time of the day among our contingent was CRR Bill Rose, who placed 7th overall and won the 50-59s with a 19:58. New CRR Thomas Schumacher placed 11th overall and won the 30-30s in 20:25.  CRR Bob Taggart took the top spot in among the 70-79s with a 24:27. Another newcomer, CRR Christine Schultz, ran a 24:51 to win the 40-49s. CRR Becky George was the top finisher in the women’s 50-59s with a 26:27. CRR Bruce Hubbard and his wife, CRR April Anderson, took top spots in the 60-69s in 26:01 and 34:47, respectively.

CRR Mark Deshon (50-59, 21:20 – 15th overall) and CRR Bob Bennett (70-79, 26:31) took seconds in their respective age groups, and new recruit CRR Dan Weile finished 13th overall while taking third in the 40-49s with a 20:33.

Even Creek Road Runners kids got into the act.

Aaron George, son of CRR Becky George, made it a mother-son double with a first among the 13-19s, finishing 5th overall in 19:39. CRR Christine Schultz’s daughter Lawson helped complete a mother-daughter double with a win in the 12-and-unders with a 28:38. CRR Cole Galloway’s entire clan seemed to be spread out along Creek Road, with his son Nathan taking first in the 12-and-unders with a 20:11, good for 9th place overall, and his son Nick taking a third in the 13-19s with a 22:11. Cole ran a 21:59.

Also notable was the emergence of CRR Steve Tague, who ran a comfortable 22:39 in his first race since having heart surgery two years ago.  Glad you’re back!

As always, it’s great to see CRR Jim Fischer volunteering at the finish.