Monday, March 8, 2010

The Weekly Log: March 8-14, 2010

As father and son, we share a similar passion for the sport of running and wanted to share some worthy accomplishments and news from the past week in our local world. Enjoy!

-Mark Lorenzoni (on the run since 1973) and Alec Lorenzoni (running since 1999)

Upcoming Events

MJ8K Tidbits...
This Saturday's running of the popular MJ8K represents a great Ten Miler preview opportunity, as the race traverses over some of downtown's most challenging hills and covers many of the same city streets as the Ten Miler. A record crowd is expected as this 2009 Top 10 event may top the 900 mark for the first time ever! Entries are still open as we went to press. Call 293-3367 for entry status.

Course Records:
Open : Seth Hutchinson 24:37 & Jill Krebs- 29:38
40-49: Burkhard Spiekermann 28:00 & Andrea Wright- 30:52
50-59: Bill Guerrant 30:14 & Cynthia Lorenzoni 36:20
60-69: Cal Fowler 33:48 & Lis Villadsen 39:52
70+ Harry Freestone 43:13 & Jane Berkely 59:20

Virginia Festival of the Book

Tori McLure, author of the bestselling "A Pearl in the Storm", will be speaking about her book and adventure of crossing the Atlantic solo, as our guest next Friday, March 19th at 6:00pm at Ragged Mountain. The event is free (thanks to our host Dr. Wilder and his Runner's Clinic at UVa) and it should be an inspiring talk for all ages...come join us!

Run for Haiti Finally Happening!

The twice rescheduled "Run for Haiti" is set for next Sunday, March 21st at 3:00pm in Free union. The event, which will feature a half mile run for kids and an open mile, two mile and 5K, will donate all of the proceeds to local groups working to help Haiti get back on its feet. Race day entry only and donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Parking is in the Mcintosh's field off Wesley Chapel Road.

Blue Ribbons To...

Emily Potter, the former Albemarle cross country star who was awarded the Army's 2009 Female Athlete of the Year Award last week. Potter, who with Patriot star Jennifer Owens, formed the best tandem harrier punch in Virginia while at Albemarle, went on to have a stellar racing career at West Point. She competed at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials in Boston, where she ran an impressive 2:45. Potter is currently the fastest U.S. Army female distance runner in the world.

Zach Vrhovac, who one upped his blue ribbon performance from last week with a huge 4:02 anchor leg for Virginia's Distance Medley Relay team this past weekend at the Notre Dame Last Chance Invite. Vrhovac, who ran the 1600 meter leg, received the baton amidst a group of sub-4:00 milers and more than held his own in his first real test against national class competition. The final time of 9:37.92 is the fastest for UVA this season, and was only a couple seconds away from qualifying the team for the NCAA Indoor Championships this upcoming weekend.

DMR relay-mate John Minen, who led off with a stellar 2:54 1200 leg on Friday night only to come back with an even more impressive 4:02.77 mile the next day. Minen, who transferred from Kent State earlier this winter, has made impressive strides under the UVA coaching staff and is now ranked #2 all-time on Virginia's indoor mile list, trailing only the 3:59.2 from Vince Draddy way back in 1982. (Draddy by the way is still the ONLY Virginia miler to ever break 4:00, indoors or out) Fourth year Alex Bowman also impressed with a big personal best of 4:05.48 and now ranks #8 all-time at UVA.

Virginia tracksters Robby Andrews and Ryan Collins, who both qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas this weekend. Andrews, who dazzled the world of high school track last year with indoor national records of 2:22.28 in the 1000 and 1:49.21 in the 800, is undefeated this year as a frosh and is currently ranked #10 nationally in the 800 with his time of 1:48.01. 2008 Olympian Andrew Wheating from Oregon is the heavy favorite in the event as his qualifying time is over a second faster than everyone else, but look for Andrews to be a potential darkhorse if he can get into position to unleash his devastating kick over the final 200 meters. Joining Andrews will be teammate Collins, who is fresh off his second consecutive Indoor ACC 5000 meter crown and will be looking to garner his first ever All-American honors on the track, as he is currently ranked #4 nationally with his time of 13:46.41. The meet will take place Friday and Saturday, and results can be viewed here.

Jim Hall, who ran an impressive 1:33 (~7:00/mile pace) at the Williamsburg Half Marathon.

Tyler and Debbie Rork, who ran their first 9 mile training run of their life last weekend! The couple began their running journey last October and have been participating in the Ten Miler Training Program for the first time this winter.

Father/Son Running Tandem of the Week...

(As father and son we've enjoyed many memorable running times together over the years, so we thought it might be fun to recognize a father/son running duo each week)

Dave Bloor and son Doug are two of the best known long distance running coaches in the state, yet both started their running careers as accomplished racers. Dave ran varsity track and cross country for UVa in the late fifties (see any Corks and Curls yearbook from 1957-1960 and you're sure to see Dave's speedy legs) and son Doug was one of the fastest harriers in the state as he clocked an amazing 15:59 on the legendary Piedmont course his senior year (the only local cross country runner to ever do so). Like his dad, he went on to be a collegiate star as he was one of JMU's top distance runners of the late 1980's. Dave now coaches at St. Catherine's and Doug is the head distance coach at Monticello High.

In Other News...

Wednesday Workouts Underway
If you're looking to improve your race times and want some company (as in other folks) and a coach to help you do so, then look no further than our Ragged Mountain Wednesday workouts. All abilities (and we mean ALL as long as you're already running) are welcome to join us. We meet in the Univ. Hall parking lot at 5:30am (we know, kind of early) and usually knock of just before 7:00am. Come join us!


The Adidas Supernova Classic, one of the most popular and revered running shoes of all-time, will be phased out of Adidas shoe line later this spring. The beloved shoe,which has been keeping runners comfortable for over 15 years,will be replaced by an updated "modern" version sometime this summer.

No comments:

Post a Comment