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 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.”

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.