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So, it’s been relatively silent here at CreekRoadRunners.org since the Covid-19 pandemic gripped our region and the world. However, that doesn’t mean that runners have not found ways to adapt and stay in shape and, yes, even “compete” (For example, see the previous story, posted three months ago.)
Such is the case with CRR Diane Kukich, the Newark woman with the still-intact streak of more than 10,000 consecutive days of workouts, dating back some 30 years. So, it figures that, while not a fanatic racer, she would design ways to push herself and compete (against the clock) as one of the top masters females in the area.
Enter the Crush the Pandemic competition, organized by Tri-Sports Charitable Events. The competition involved ten 5Ks, all self-timed. Perfect for Kukich, who simply pushed herself while working this into her fitness routine.
And, voila! Kukich took home (er, was mailed) hardware for winning the female masters category with the fastest cumulative time (4:25:27) for her series of 5K runs. That equates to a 26:33 average per 5K—not bad for anyone, let alone someone in the 65-69 age bracket.
Such a unique concept and award. Hopefully, we won’t have to see such a thing become the norm.
Stay healthy, and keep running.
Notably absent from last Saturday’s Turkey Trot races here in Newark was CRR Andrew Weber. That’s because he ran the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday. The 40-year-old Weber placed 400th overall in a huge field, breaking the 3-hour mark in 2:59:44 and qualifying for the Boston Marathon in the process. Congratulations to him on a major accomplishment in his new age group.
In the Rothman Orthopedics 8K (rough metric equivalent of a five-mile race), part of the Philadelphia Marathon Weekend, 52-year-old CRR Bill Farquhar finished in 29:59, 4th in his age group and 122nd overall (out of 4,130 competitors). That’s a six-minute/mile pace for this speedy senior!
Short-distance speedster CRR Bruce Weber (no relation to Andrew, except for similar fast-twitch acumen) took care of winning the 55-59 age group in 19:31. An annual racing event for her, CRR Ann Jornlin won the 65-69 age group with a 30:06.
In the 10K race, coming off having run both the 
Chilly, but calm, conditions provided a near ideal day for the 47th Annual Turkey Trot 10K and 5K races here in Newark. There were several notables among the Creek Road Runners, as several took age-group awards.
In the 10K, CRR Clark Ridge of College Park, Md., placed 4th overall (out of the 195 finishers) and took 1st among the 35-39 men in a fast 36:38. (Yes, the photo at left is one from his college days.)
In the 5K, CRR Mark Deshon led the Creek Road Runners, placing 39th overall (out of 541 finishers) and turning in an inspired 7-min./mile pacing at 21:42, taking 1st place in the 60-64 age group. This is Deshon’s 10th consecutive age-group win, dating back four years to the 2015 Turkey Trot. OK, the jinx is now on!
In the 10K, CRR Christina Parsons won the 50-54 age group, finishing 40th overall out of 178 runners in 48:36. Parsons margin of victory in her age group was more than seven minutes! CRR Steve Tague, who finished 24th overall, ran a solid 44:37 and took second in the 55-59 age group.
In the 5K, the honors go to two 70-and-over seniors, who each won this ever-thinning division. CRR Doug Ridge won in 28:28, and CRR April Anderson won in 42:12 (no doubt walking much of it).