Gobble Cobble

800 runners on cobblestones and around the Harbor was a little overwhelming, but I think the Falls Road Running Store pulled it off with their 3rd annual Gobble Cobble "6k." We think it was 3.85ish miles, for the record. Eric Benjamin is finishing up results but our top 3 ladies were:

1. Heather Tanner (sister of Melissa)
2. Denise Knickman
3. Alyssa Godesky

These three ladies ran extremely quick! Also making appearances were Steve Levin and newcomer PJ Martinez.

Due to the nature of Thanksgiving Day races, it's nearly impossible for me to know every race that was run, since I don't know where everybody is headed. I usually look at results from past years, but if you can send me a text or email with the name of the race you ran today (or over the weekend), I'd appreciate it!

So here are some other early results from the wire:

Melissa Majumdar made her 2012 racing debut in the Palatine Turkey Trot 2 Miler, finishing 2nd in 12:34 - absolutely unreal! She was hoping to run 7 minute pace. Doesn't look like that was a suitable goal! Arjun Majumdar ran the 5 miler, finishing 6th in 28:05. Great job both, and to Tarala on her first road race experience (she was spectating).

Somewhere in upstate New York, Diane Heiser ran a new road 5k PR of 18:07, finishing 2nd to "some Providence girl." In New Jersey, Steve Febish was 5th at the Dick Meighan 5k, running 16:11 just days after his breakout half marathon performance. Tim Burns on his run at Ashenfelter 8k in Ridgewood: "not good."

Dan Miranda and Patrick O'Rourke are both Long Island natives and both ran the Town Wide Fund of Huntington Thanksgiving Day 4 Miler. Waiting on results for that one. Collin Anderson finished 3rd in his 5k, in 17:29.

At the Towson Turkey Trot 5k, Eitan Halper-Stromber was 3rd in 17:15 and Drew Thivierge was 6th in 17:59. Over in Bel Air at their Turkey Trot, Luke Belford was 3rd in 17:06 and Alix Brusewitz posted a result, running 26:54.

In Pennsylvania, Tom Stott ran a course best 18:04, and Patty also ran her fastest time there, 24:27. Patty's brother Michael ran his first ever 5k - that's what it's all about!

That Shhh Cray

With all those Turkey Type Runs, Trots, Gobblers, and Gallops, there was a lot of racing going on from California to the New York island.  Well, actually, more like Concord, NH, to Omaha, NE.  And down to Outer Banks, and out to Chicago, and Connecticut to Corning.

Here's the local stuff first.  The ringers came out of the woodwork for the Towson Turkey Trot, with some really quick times being put down.  Our very own Steve Levin, absent from racing for what seems like years now, ran 17:29 for 11th.  New Becky Parks, once again relegated to 4th, ran a 19:52.  At the Falls Road Gobble Cobble 7k...4 mile...6k, Denise Knickman retained her title, while Dave Ploskonka finished 14th, and Michael Rady finished 30th.  Christine Trzcsinki was 7th among women. 

In PA, it was a Stott-Simms reunion at the Tel Hai Turkey Bowl 5k.  Kris Simms, Tom Stott, Patty Sweeney-Stott, and it looks like even Haleigh Stott participated in the race.  Results should be posted sooner or later.  In Concord, NH, at the Galloping Gobbler 4 Mile, Nate Brigham took 3rd in 21:51.  Down in the Outer Banks, Terry Decker (8th or 9th, 19:23) and Molly Eagen (25:07) ran the Gobbler 5k.  Lisa Ievers once again ran the Pie and Glove 5k in Corning, NY, running 19:23. 

In his first race as an Omaha resident, Ben Ingram made it clear he's here to compete, winning the Joslyn Castle Turkey Trot 5k in 16:30.  As I have now been corrected by two huge nerds, I incorrectly referred to Warren Buffett as the Wizard of Omaha when he is really the Oracle of Omaha.  So guess what Ben, see if any of us pays attention to your results from now on, if you didn't like my creative nickname.

Now that he lives in Seattle, chances are low that we'll ever see Kyle Smits again, but I remembered that he usually does the Pequots 5 Miler in Connecticut, where his wife's family is from, and I guessed right.  He finished 7th in 27:23, and will be out at Club XC Nationals next weekend in Washington - so while none of us is running, GRC guys can look out for him!

At the Palatine Turkey Trot, Arjun Majumdar opted for the 2 mile race, and finished 7th in 10:50, thereby establishing a team 2 mile road record!  Melissa Majurridar ran the 5 miler, and finished 16th in 37:12.

The NCR Trail Marathon and Relay took place on Saturday, and Dan Miranda ran 3:01:56 for 16th.  A disappointing day for him, but at least took the sting out of the previous weekend's Philly attempt.  He's written his thoughts about it on his blog.  Kevin Frick ran 3:15:40 and Brian Benda finished at 3:36:53.  In the relay, Jackie Truncellito was on the winning co-ed team, and 2nd place team overall, in 3:01:58.  Emily Keyes was on the 6th place co-ed team in 3:31:18. 

The last result from the weekend was Kevin McGrath, running the Navesink Challenge 15k in 1:16:00, a full 4.5 minutes faster than he ran last year after getting back from Chile!

I had awarded the Purple Drink Athlete of the Week to Ben for winning his first race in his new city, as it's his 4th city in 4 years.  But now I'm regretting it.  PSYCHE.  Ben informed me, though, of some bad news: he and Kendra were going to come out for Celtic Solstice, but he's got to fly out here the weekend before that to take a final exam, and CS weekend flights were really expensive, so he will be unable to make it.  So if you're around on the 10th, try to check Ben out as he may briefly come up to Baltimore during the afternoon before heading to the airport Sunday morning.

Don't Touch My Junk

Kudos to Zero for the suggestion for the blog title...paying homage to the new TSA policies

I think I pretty much captured everyone's races in the previous post, but I'll fill out the rest of the weekend.

Our lone champion of the week was Dusty Meeker, who won the Wheeling Turkey Trot 5k in 15:35. After a long evening involving a considerable amount of "cheer," Dustin woke up a few hours later and whooped up on all-comers.

Lisa Ievers ran an awesome 5k at the Pie and Glove 5k in Corning, NY. It was her first time under 20 since college, and she claims a PR with the 19:34 5th place. Awesome!!

My brother and sister ran a 15k in NJ, very hilly - with my brother going 1:20:31 and my sister finishing a little after 90 minutes. This race is no joke and maybe one of these years I'll stick around in NJ long enough after Thanksgiving to do it.

Official results on the Stotts: Tom was 11th in 19:03 while Patty was 22nd F in 24:46.

Joel and now Alix Brusewitz were married on Saturday in a very nice ceremony, which involved the performance of the Joel David Band, but prior to that, the pair ran the Bulle Rock Turkey Trot 5k in Bel Air area. Joel ran a surprising 17:55 for 5th, while Alix walk/jogged with family.

Kyle Smits, DDS, was 7th in the annual Pequot Thanksgiving 5M in 27:13.

So it was a pretty sweet weekend of racing, mostly a big Thursday, and our Purple Drink Athlete of the Week - for the first time this year - is Arjun Majumdar! His race was quite impressive, and he also drove to Chicago and back (as in, he did all the driving, I hear) which always takes it out of the legs.

As you know, the next two weeks are loaded with funtime activities!

1. Saturday, December 11, 8:30am, Fells Point Figgy Pudding 5k. I could use some helpers again to time/finish line at this race! Let me know if you're available for about 2 hours in the morning.

2. Saturday, December 11, 4:00pm, Christgiving. If you have NOT RSVP'd to Arjun or Melissa for their annual potluck gathering, please do that, and also let them know what you plan on bringing.

3. Saturday, December 11, nighttime, Festivus. Annual celebration at Tank's house. Bring booze.

4. Sunday, December 12, 4:30pm, AWARDS NIGHT. At the Falls Road Running Store. Pizzas and bevs will be brought by me. Desserts or alco bevs are cool to bring if you want to bring that. This is another thing you need to RSVP (to me) for as I need to know how much food to bring.

5. Saturday, December 18, morning, Celtic Solstice. If you can volunteer, help out, whatever, let Jim know. Following the race we'll get it cracking somewhere, maybe Kisling's.

Gobble Gobble

From Joel Gladfelter, running the Berwick Run for the Diamonds 9 Miler in PA...

"Ran 55:56 unofficial. Negative split in 2-3 inches of snow. Had to stop 3 times for unlaced shoes in the wet which were all in the back half. Lost about 60sec. Would have been close to breaking 55. Over 4min 30sec course PR. Puked 2min after finish. 28 degrees. Winner was 44min + change."

Great job Barf - you were 64th place in 55:57, finishing one second ahead of southeastern Pennsylvania's own Greg Cauller!

At the Gobble Cobble 7k in Harbor East, the crew pulled off a great race. Attendance was 360 runners - not bad for an event that was only announced a couple of weeks ago. I think this will mark a great tradition. Patty Mack got the W and therefore established the event and course record in 24:36 or something. Berardi was 2nd. Dr. Rod and Tom Stewart were there. Denise took the win for the ladies, running just hard enough to win. Alyssa started off super fast and ran the cobbles real well, and finished 4th overall. Christine Trzcinski ran her first race since Boston.

At the Tel Hai Turkey Bowl 5k (xc), where it was 33 degrees and sleeting, Tom Stott finished around 11th place in 19:01, while Patty was 24:40 - awesome race for both!

Arjun finished 11th in 28:47 at the Palatine Turkey Trot 5M, while Melissa ran the 2 mile run with her sister.

Diane was 7th at the Troy Turkey Trot in 19:55 - just farting around with her friends. They dressed up as chefs chasing a turkey and still ran pretty darn quick.

I noticed a few names in the Towson YMCA Turkey Trot 5k that I haven't seen race in a while - Rory Jenkins (where does he even live now??) finished 7th in 18:44 and BVA (Bobby Van Allen) was 13th in 20:10.