People News New Members:
Jacqueline Cooke 26, Alexandria, VA
Christopher Maier, 28, Alexandria, VA
Charles Manahan, 37, Falls Church, VA
Erin Mark, 28, Alexandria, VA

We welcome Jacqueline, Christopher, Charles, and Erin into the WRC! Unofficially, that gives us 22 new members thus far in 04, 10 fine women and 12 fine men.

Member Birthdays in September:
Lance Christ, Mark Drosky, Ashley Etue, Prasad Gerard, Albert Han, Elizabeth McDermott, Charles Manahan, Erica Morton, Samantha Newbold, Joseph Pires, Jeff Stratton, and Brian Yourish

Happy Birthday all...enjoy your day! If we missed your September birthday it's simply because we don't have your birthdate in our records.

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Jay Wind 54  68:29
Bob Platt 52  92:34 (not sure about this time..results were goofy)

1st Peter Tollefson 23  16,650 meters (about 10.4 miles)*
7th Brian Tefft 23  15,600 meters (about 9.75 miles)
13th Roberto Rodriguez 48  13,947 meters (about 8.7 miles)
20th Jay Wind 54  13,200 meters (about 8.25 miles)
22nd James Scarborough 46  12,866 meters (about 8 miles)

* very rough estimates...we'll leave it up to you mathaholics to get it poifect.

1st Mike Wardian 30  52:29

Mark Drosky 43  29:59
Roberto Rodriguez 48  31:19
Bob Trost 58  32:36
Bob Platt 53  34:06

28th Mike Wardian 30  Total Time: 2:49:25
       Swim Time:  19:05  (13 place)
       Bike Time: 1:58:00 (72 place) (Mountain biking this was)
       Run Time:    32:20 (1st place) 

7th Bryon Powell 26  19:35 (1st age group)

Of 109 finishers only one broke 18 minutes and a total of four broke 19 minutes. So a rough course for sure. Bryon indicated that "the course was beautiful - grass trails over rolling farmland - and was highly reminiscent of high school XC." 

1st Anthony Belber 31  17:26
Roberto Rodriguez 48  20:15
Mark Drosky 43  20:23
Jay Wind 54  20:26
Bob Platt 53  22:38
James Scarborough 46  23:21

3d Lisa Thomas 28  36:51
15th Sarah Buckheit 44  45:14

Bryon reported:  "Got more lost more times on the way to this brutal trail race than during it. Started 15 minutes late, but managed 7th in a drawn out field in an unofficial time of 2:37:10. Having now run this race twice, I can confidently say that mile-for-mile this is the toughest race I've ever run. That said, it's a beautiful course and a very fun, low-key event - how often do you have a guy in a tux serving champagne to you during a trail run?" 

360th Kyle Yost 33  11:14:46 (80th age group)

Words from Kyle. "It is now eight days after the race and I am recovered, both physically and mentally. My legs were sore the day after the race and then quickly recovered with the exception of my right calf which cramped in the swim. Amazingly, that still hurts like someone took to it with a sledgehammer although it is getting better by the day." 

Well, even with the rough terrain and unfortunate shoe problems, Pascal finished 3d in 30:54 close behind the 2nd guy in 30:43 and the 1st in 30:33. And he won cheese...a nice hybrid between swiss and roquefort cheeses). Way to go Pascal! Here are some pics of the race.

Track and Sunday long runs! Numbers have been up of late at the track and Sunday distance runs out of Georgetown as members and associates prepare for fall marathons and other races. Track night has seen from 10-15 people in the main WRC group, while anywhere from 5 to 10 other WRCers have also been at the track on Tuesday nights doing other tailored workouts. 

The Sunday distance runs have had upwards of 20 people lately as members pound the trails and roads going anywhere from 8 to 20 miles. Regulars include: Diana Johnson, Challice Bonifant, Erica Morton, Emily Turner, Adina Wadsworth, Genevieve Kiley, Amy Sullivan, Steve Baker, Gerry Ives, Jim Wadsworth, Tris Kruger, Mike Proulx, Pascal Brazey, Brian Tefft, John O'Donnell, Ryan Rodenberg. And many new faces lately as well: Laura, MJ, Neil, Charles, Kristin, Lynn, and others. Also spotted on the trails this past Sunday were some other WRCers who do their training together: Lisa Thomas, Sharon Donovan, Lindsay Goulet, Maria Kozloski, and Lance Crist. Our esteemed President Barb was also out on the trail kicking it up. Great to see all out and about! 

On Saturday, September 18th, is the WRC Club Challenge 8k being held on the C&O Towpath (flat, fast, & scenic) in the Carderock Recreation Area. The race will begin at 9 a.m., with onsite-registration-only at 8 a.m. For members the cost will be a discounted $2 and for non-members, $5. Also, a co-ed team competition will take place with 3 needed to score (at least one female). Prizes will be awarded, refreshments will be served. 

We welcome all members to run this race...and tell your running friends about it too. It's a good way to see how your training is coming along. For more information and directions go to the race page. 

A bunch of members are running fall marathons. Here's what we know so far. We wish all the best with their training and races!
 

 Members, if you're runnning a marathon and you're not in this list, let us know and we'll update it. Thanks!

Olympic Marathons. We give well deserved props to the two Olympic marathon medalists from the U.S., Deena Kastor who took the bronze medal in the women's race in 2:27:20 using a great race strategy and fast finish, and Meb Keflezighi, who won the silver medal in the men's marathon in 2:11:29, a personal best. That was one tough course with mega hills, heat, and humidity. It was especially tough for the women, who had it even hotter than the men, by about 20 degrees. 

A blurb from SI.com: "The 29-year-old Keflezighi, who emigrated from the African nation of Eritrea at age 10, is the first American to medal in the men's marathon since Frank Shorter's silver in 1976. Deena Kastor won the bronze in the women's marathon a week ago, marking the first time the United States had won two medals in the 26.2-mile race at the same Olympics."

"But I think that the Olympic spirit prevailed here once again. My determination prevailed. I was able to medal for myself and my country... It doesn't really matter what the result of the appeal was. What happened was something that simply happened." --Vanderlei de Lima, the bronze medallist in the marathon, after having his chance for Olympic gold ruined by a deranged spectator who attacked him as he lead the Olympic marathon near the 23 mile mark. de Lima was still ecstatic to get his Olympic bronze and also received the Pierre de Coubertin medal for his great sportsmanship. (source: smh.com.au/letsrun.com)

Indeed, this guy knows his sportsmanship and is to be commended. In our humble opinion he would likely have been caught anyway, as his lead of over 45 seconds had shrunk to 28 seconds at this point with Stefano Baldini of Italy (gold medalist) and Meb moving fast and gaining. Of course, it's still very unfortunate that such a disgraceful exhibition of foolhardiness took place. We certainly salute Vanderlei for his ability to refocus at such a late stage in the race and carry on for the bronze medal.