The “Marathon a Month” targeted the Pacific Shoreline Marathon as its next big challenge, but few of us anticipated the stellar performances by AREC runners.
Congratulations to Gilbert Salazar, a sub- 3 hour marathoner, who often runs with AREC and helps pace some of us on training runs, who blistered the course in 2:52:40. Gilbert did it in style, capturing 3rd in his age division.Way to go, Gilbert!
Crossing the finishing line next was AREC’s own Chuck Sohaskey, who finished once again in the top ten of his age group with a outstanding time of 3:08:38! Chuck can do it all...road or trail...and consistently finishes near the top of his division.
How does she do it? She just started “marathoning” 10 months ago. In her 4th marathon, Stacy Shourt raced to a 4:10:23 time and a PR by over 17 minutes! Not only that, but last week she recorded AREC’s Fastest Woman Record for the 12K! In fact, somebody check the archives, but she managed 3 PRs (WTRS 12K Trail, Las Vegas Half Marathon, and Pacific Shoreline) in ...hold on to your hats...ONE WEEK! She never ceases to amaze. A strong candidate for AREC’s Most Improved Runner.
My award for “Most Courageous” or “gutsy performance” for this race has got to go to my “Marathon-a-Month Club” co-founder, Suzanne Kairy. While most of us would use any excuse to avoid the pain and discomfort of the classic 26 miler, Suzanne, recovering from a severe cold/virus, ran like the wind. She not only ran her obligatory monthly marathon to keep her string intact, but dug down for the strength to finish in an incredible 4:13:39! And this from someone who could barely speak a few days before. Not only has Suzanne run her marathon a month (believe me, no easy task) but has taken up running half marathons as training runs. In the past 2 months she has PR’ed in each race! Congratulations and our continued admiration, Suzanne.
Well, speaking of “inspiring runners”, next in the “Most Improved” category is another new marathoner, Rich Satow. Recently, Rich and I have commiserated with each other about our common knee ailment, the dreaded “ITB” (illiotibial band syndrome). This is an injury that is hard to cure, difficult to train with, nearly impossible to race with, and gets worse the longer you run. It just keeps lingering. So, I’m getting my “monthly marathon excuse” ready (about mile 22...you remember that big hill...), when I feel this tap on my shoulder. “Are you OK?” It’s Rich and he’s running fast! Rich charges up Huntington Beach’s own HeartBreak Hill...the infamous Edwards Street Mountain (OCTC and the Snails refer to it as “Puke Hill”). Eventually, I got to the top and Rich was nowhere to be seen. He raced to a new PR of 4:20:19, lowering his time by an hour! Fantastic!
Me? Some of you know I’ve been chasing Oprah’s ten-year old record of 4:29. Puff Daddy managed to shatter it in New York, however, I’m still trying to run it down. It wasn’t for lack of effort. Not only did I modestly “shave off” a few seconds of my rather “soft” PR, but dropped some wind drag by also shaving my head. Did it work? New PR by 12 minutes. I lined up close to the start and did have a close up of everyone passing me along the way. My 9 minutes slowed to 10 minutes and, then, to 11 minutes a minutes a mile. By the time Rich passed me at mile 22, my race was over. The knee said “no”...the body said “it’s over, pal, you gave it your best shot” and I jogged/walked it in. Oprah, the record falls in Los Angeles in my “first official marathon”. Well done, fellow ARECers! See ya at the races!