Army! And we're famous!

The 2007 Ten-Mile Group (TMG) Training Program, which started on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on July 14, 2007, lasted twelve weeks and was a resounding success. Fifty-nine participants signed up to receive the benefit of training for the Army 10-Miler with the following six volunteer coaches:

Jeanne (10K Group Program Administrator, First-time coach, Beginner Group)
Jeannie (First-time coach, Novice Group)
Kristin (2005 DCRRC Volunteer of the Year, TMG & 10K Program Director, 2005 and 2006)
Linda (First-time coach, Intermediate Group, First Woman Finisher, TMG Program, Army 2007)
Matt (2002 DCRRC Volunteer of the Year, Fifth Place, 2005 National Capital 20-Miler)
Peter (2005 TMG participant, 2006 TMG & 10K coach, 2007 TMG & 10K Director)

Thanks to them all.

Despite incredibly difficult circumstances (it was a very hot and humid day, and many water stations ran dry), the following twenty-nine participants joined 17,599 other finishers to officially finish the Army 10-Miler on Sunday, October 7, 2007:

Danielle Bonners
John Braden
Karen Brooks
Renee Clement
Becky Cole
Nikki Coletta
Christal Cudworth
Scott Eucker (first Program finisher)
Mary Flynn
Avery Gillett
Beth Goulston
JoAnna Graham
Linda Haines (coach) (second Program finisher)
Joan Harrigan-Farrelly
Deryle House
Jeff Jacobs
Alisen James
Karen Kroehler
Derrick Landwehr-Brown
Kara Lovett
Jeanne McCann (coach)
Sheila McCarthy
Deborah McCray
Alberta Ponce
Eunice Reddick
Jennifer Richmond (unofficial finisher)
Jeannie Salo (coach)
Alexandra Tagle
Kristi Tunstall
Ellen Wilson

Times ranged from 1:17:06 to 2:16:59. (To see everyone’s times, click into Forum on the club’s website.)

Christal joined Scott and Linda in breaking 1:30. Ten other participants broke 1:40 (10 minutes per mile pace) on this brutal day. Everyone did great! (Left: Christal (on the Memorial Bridge during an eight-mile run from Fletcher's Boathouse in week 6) was one of three Program participants who ran a sub 9-minute per mile pace at Army despite the brutal heat.)

Additionally, coaches Kristin and Peter ran the equally difficult Chicago Marathon on that day, a race that was cancelled midway through it due to record heat (88 degrees and humid with no wind) and because they ran out of water too.

Stephanie Hankin ran the Half-Marathon at the Baltimore Marathon Running Festival the following Saturday in a time well under two hours.

Our Program received national publicity when a couple of TMG runners were captured on film running around the Tidal Basin during week two of the Program and this picture was used by a national periodical, Cooking Light, to illustrate the excellent commitment to fitness Washingtonians demonstrate.

This greatly helped in the magazine rating DC the third best city in the country in which to live according to the magazine’s criteria. ("Our capital city sets an accommodating agenda with farm-fresh dining, diverse cultures, and ample opportunity for exploration on foot.") We received three and a half stars for Being Fit.
Check out this full-page spread which appears on page 75 in the October 2007 issue of Cooking Light, part of an article starting on page 74 entitled, "Top 20 Cities: Washington DC (Third Spot)" by Jay Cooke. (Above: Shadows flee ahead of DCRRC TMG runner Mary Ellen Fraser as she enjoys an early morning run around the Tidal Basin with another runner on July 21, 2007. Photo credit Douglas Merriam.)

The Race Is Upon Us

Good luck to everyone running Army! Leave a message here to tell us about your experiences!

Week 12 saw all the roads to Haines Point, our meeting place, closed off for the Nation's Triathlon. The event started with a swim in Georgetown, but the bicycle part involved Haines Point. We certainly support other recreational activities and applaud all of those athletes who participated in the competition. However, most TMG participants were prevented from reaching the starting point for our taper run, and so ran here, there and everywhere. The Mall was full of runners enjoying the morning. Some early-bird TMG athletes actually made it to the meeting site, and ran the seven mile route around a deserted Haines Point and over to Virginia and back, but then experienced a terrible time trying to get their vehicles out of Haines Point afterwards in the midst of the race. Apparently it was quite an adventure!

You all did really great in the program! Anyone who attended regularly is quite capable of running 10 miles, as we did in weeks ten and eleven at least.

Hydrate the day before the race, eat well the night before, get plenty of rest, then arrive at the Pentagon early to stretch, warm up and take your place in the corrals. Wear technical racing apparel (no cotton) and don't dress too warmly. Imbibe sufficient water and gatorade during the race (there will be stations where this will be given out) but not too much (beware of water intoxication known as hyponatremia). Bring a Gu or two and ingest those at 45 minute intervals. Wear sunblock, a hat and sunglasses. Start off slowly and then pick up your pace, if you are able to, as you feel comfortable. Enjoy yourself! Good Luck.

Anyone who did not pick up their technical program t-shirt can contact me at plamberton@yahoo.com with their size choice (size choice is limited). Include an address where you would like the shirt sent to.

Thanks to volunteer coaches Jeanne, Jeannie, Kristin (good luck at Chicago!), Linda and Matt for making the Program such a success.

I hope to see you all at the 10K Group Training Program around February, 2008.