What's that you say?...Luck? Nah, we don't need it

Well, the spring racing season has officially arrived!  The past couple of weekends featured some of the best organized and most competition local races of the year.

Getting right to it, last Sunday kicked things off with two fast races.  In DC, Mick and Tiffany took to the roads in the St. Patrick's Day 8k.  Tiffany cruised along to finish at 32:00, just outside the top 20.  Mick was right behind, clocking a 32:10 for 2nd in his AG.

Meanwhile, in Charm City, a large group participated in the Kelly's Shamrock 5k, which coincides with the St. Patty's Day parade.  As some of us did our warmup run around the bay, we noticed that the wind was blowing into our faces heading towards Key Highway.  This is a good thing, we thought.  Headwind at the beginning and tailwind on the back half.  Well, we were...WRONG!  Mother Nature decided she wanted us to earn all 3.1 miles and provided us with a headwind the entire race.  There were several PRs, including myself, Seth, Kelly, and Caroline.  Seth started his 2013 campaign the same way he did in 2012 with a PR in 16:16.  Jason, on pace for around 17:00, pulled a hamstring at 2.5 miles and had to limp to the finish.  Hoping this doesn't mess up his Boston plans!  Kelly crushed 6:00 pace, running 18:24 and winning some $ for first Master while Caroline continued her assault en route to Boston, running a 40+ second PR of 19:06.  Chris Chattin is healthy again and ran an impressive 16:57.  His son, Anders, ran 20:31, representing the Junior Striders in style.  Vicki beat her pre-race goal as she continues to get back into shape, running 20:41.  Complete team results as follows:

Mark Buschman    15:26    2nd
Seth Geoghegan    16:16    9th    2nd (M30-39)
Steve Olenick    16:46    14th    3rd (M30-39)

Chris Chattin    15th    1st (M45-49)
Craig Lebro    17:23    24th   
Jason Tripp    17:44    29th    2nd (M40-44)
Tunde Morakinyo    18:28    41st    3rd (M45-49)
John Chall    19:25    58th    1st (M55-59)
           
Kelly Westlake    18:24    7th    1st Master

Caroline Bauer    19:04    10th
Vicki Lang    20:41    17th    2nd (F40-44)

Here's some action shots, courtesy of Carlos:

Pre-race (left to right): Madison, Carlos, Jason, Steve, Seth,  and Mark

Mark rolling down Pratt Street en route to a 2nd place finish

Seth's final steps to another 5k PR!

Steve kicking it in

Chris rounding the final turn

Kelly running sub 18:30!

Nice running form, Caroline!

Vicki cruising down Charles Street in the fast first mile

 Yesterday, Kevin and Kelly rolled at the Rock 'N Roll USA Half Marathon in DC.  Some of the Falls Road guys informed me the course was quite hilly, making it tough for a PR.  I'm not sure if Kevin ran a PR, but if not he was close, clocking a 1:16:16 for 31st.  Kelly was just outside of a PR, running 1:25:23 for 22nd and 2nd Master.  In Reston, VA, Tiffany hit the roads in the Lucky Leprechaun 5k where she broke 20 again, 19:51 for 11th.  I'm still awaiting B&A Trail Half Marathon results but I know Caroline toed the line and Tacy made her return to the racing scene, running 1:35:45 for 2nd in her AG.  Welcome back Tacy!

The big races (Cherry Blossom, Clyde's, Boston) are only a few weeks away, let's keep getting at it!!!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Spring...

It was a busy weekend of racing that had a spring-like feel to it. It started off in our Nation's Capital, as a few racing team members competed in the Rock 'N Roll National Marathon/Half. Caroline Bauer continued her PR crushing 2012 campaign with a 1:28:55 in the half, good for 26th place! I know from experience this course isn't as flat as advertised. She is definitely going to be in sub-3:10 shape as she toes the starting line in Hopkinton in less than a month! Meanwhile, Keith Levasseur still coming back from injury hopped into the marathon like it was nothing and ran 2:54:27 for 21st place on the men's side as he begins to set his sights on a big PR in Boston.

Also Saturday morning, our Captain, Carlos Renjifo, and Kevin Ford took part in the 2nd Annual Forget Towson Invitational at UMBC. This low key track meet consisted of a 3k and 4x800m relay with several members of the Georgetown Running Company and Falls Road racing teams. In the 3k, Carlos hung with the big dogs from DC and ran a 20+ second PR with an 8:46.68 for 4th place while Kevin ran a smart, even race in 9:39.35. Carlos then ran a 2:03 split in the 4x800. BEAST!!!

Finally, Phil Lang ran the Germantown, TN half while in Memphis for the Annual RRCA Convention in 1:22:03 for 13th overall and 4th in the M40-44 age group!

Great start to the spring season!!!