Summer Series #3: Patterson's Pellet

Mendy struck back at the third race in the Summer Series on July 21, taking top Gunk honors with her eighth-place overall finish (and third straight women's title). Her 18:24 over the tough 3.0-mile course edged C-Boy's 18:31 after the latter had bested her in the previous two races. Chrissy' time was good for tenth overall, and second master, behind fellow Gunker Andy Heiz (18:25 for ninth). Gavin Gullickson nabbed a third straight age-group victory with his 18:50 for 13th overall.

Other Gunkers:
Pat Lopiano 19:57 21st place (1st age group)
Anne Gullickson 20:03 23rd place (2nd age group)
Kurtis Nordahl 21:18 35th place (2nd age group)
Jordan Stern 22:18 43rd place
Beth Glace 22:34 45th place
Maggie Schoonmaker 35:49 155th place

Full results are available here.

Hudson Valley Rail Trail 8K

The Onteora Grand Prix got back underway on July 19th with the Hudson Valley Rail Trail 8K in Highland, the first race in the series in over a month. Pat Lopiano was the lone Gunker at the race, but he represented the group beautifully, running 32:28 for seventh overall and second in the 50-59 age group. That outstanding showing moved Pat into second place in his age group in the overall Grand Prix standings. Gunker Steve Schallenkamp retained a commanding lead in the overall standings.

Full results are available here.

The next race in the Grand Prix series is the Rosendale Plains Run on August 9th.

Summer Series #2: Lou's Run

C-Boy again took top honors for the Gunkers at the second of the Summer Series races, placing sixth at Lou's Run. The race is named for Gunk legend Lou Gross, who particularly enjoyed the 4.4-mile, single-track/carriage-road race. (Series proceeds, as well as those from the Solstice Run, benefit the Lou Gross Memorial Fund.) C-Boy took third in the 40-49 age group, running a course PR of 28:49. Gavin Gullickson scored his second straight age-group win, taking 10th overall in 29:54. Mendy Taylor won the women's title for the second straight week; her 29:10 was good for seventh overall.

Other Gunkers:
Pat Lopiano 31:44 16th place (2nd age group)
Brian Nagle 31:52 18th place (3rd age group)
Anne Gullickson 32:53 3rd female, 1st master
Kurtis Nordahl 33:29 27th place (3rd age group)
Kevin Roach 33:40 29th place
Jon Stern 33:40 30th place
Fred Stewart 34:17 38th place (2nd age group)
Jordan Stern 36:56 55th place

FOGs:
Myron Baker 32:08 20th place (4th age group)
Mike Vance 32:09 21st place (2nd age group)
Barry Henck 32:24 24th place

Sorry if I missed anyone. Full results are available here.

Summer Series #1: Overcliff/Undercliff

The Summer Trail Series kicked off on July 7 with the Overcliff/Undercliff Run. This unique event allows participants to pick which direction they will run for the 4.8-mile loop course, resulting in some "blind racing" as competitors running clockwise will see those racing counterclockwise only one time before the finish.

The unstoppable Mike Slinskey of Wappingers scored an easy victory in 26:48, posting a nearly 1-minute victory margin. C-Boy was the top Gunker, running 29:36 for sixth overall and top honors among masters. Most importantly, he gained a measure of revenge over teammate Mendy Taylor, who had been crushing him recently. Mendy easily won the women's race in 30:22.

Other notable Gunkers:
Gavin Gullickson 31:06 12th place (1st age group)
Pat Lopiano 31:51 15th place (1st age group)
Kevin Roach 32:42 20th place (5th age group)
Kurtis Nordahl 34:10 24th place (3rd age group)
Steve Schallenkamp 35:38 28th place (3rd age group)
Maggie Schoonmaker 56:38 149th place

Full results are available here.

Mendy's Track Debut

Mendy Taylor, the Gunks revelation of 2008, ran the first track race of her career on Saturday (not counting her weekly Friday night beat-down of C-Boy) at the USATF East Regional Championships in nearby Valatie. Running against a competitive field in her first attempt at 1500m, Mendy more than held her own, placing fifth out of 13 runners in 4:50.56 (the equivalent of a 5:09 mile). We'll have to check on whether that's a club record. Mendy finished behind two Nike athletes and two Greater Boston TC athletes, beating three of Coach Mike's Westchester TC athletes in the process.

Not sure when Mendy is racing next, though rumor has it she may show up at the Xterra half-marathon at Spring Farm on August 16. If she does, I'll have to watch my back.

Finger Lakes 50K

Yours truly turned in one of the crummiest performances of his career over the holiday weekend at the Finger Lakes 50K, held outside Ithaca, NY. After passing through the halfway point in a pedestrian 1:58:30, I crashed and burned like never before, ultimately struggling home seventh overall in a hideous 4:35:06. Not sure exactly what happened, as I was in much better shape this year than last, when I split 1:56 en route to a 4:01:33. Very odd. Certainly some poor decisions regarding nutrition played a role, as did the humid conditions, and my overall stinkiness.