The Shining Sea
The best road race in the United States
by Katie Famous
Katie Famous heads for the finish at Falmouth
For 5 years in a row, the Falmouth Road Race has been my favorite running event of the year. When I joined the club, Tom Derderian told me that a big part of post-collegiate running is not always about what you do, but who you do it with. The Falmouth Road Race epitomizes this for me. I first found out about the race a little over 4 years ago. Margaret Bradley was my best friend and from the town of Falmouth. To her, this race was the best, most important race in the whole United States. And she made sure everyone knew it. For her, there was no question if I would race or not. It would only be how high of a number she could get me with her local connections.
The weekend soon took on a life of its own. There were many GBTC'ers in the race, as well as those along for the ride. Won over by her enthusiastic and frequent invitations, most of us went straight from the finishing line to the Bradleys' home. For Margaret, family and GBTC were almost synonymous.
As is well-chronicled in other sections of this website, Margaret died shortly before the 2004 Falmouth Road Race. But many parts of the tradition have continued. Margaret's friends and family still get together and make quite the weekend out of it. I truly believe it would make Margaret so happy to know this.
As for the race itself. In my experience, the weather is either hot, humid, or both. This year we lucked out; it was only hot.
Sloan Siegrist led the women. After years of contributing conversation and cheering, she finally was able to procure a number and impress us with her racing skillz. Sloan finished in an excellent 36th place, just behind recent high school grad and mile star Colleen Weatherbee in 44:26. Laura Hayden finished behind her in 43rd place (46:13). I managed 46th place (46:43). Christy Bonstelle was 77th in 49:01, just a bit behind Liz Ortenburger (48:27).
For the men, Kipp Ortenburger led the way, in his last race for GBTC before leaving with Liz for Australia. He finished in 38:43, good for 59th place. Kit Wells managed to get us all to the race on-time and finished 68th (39:39). Brad Kozel was a few steps behind Kit for almost the entire race, finishing 70th (39:47). Our president Bruce Davie had yet another stellar race, finishing in 77th place with a 40:20. Norm Robbie was also spotted at the race and he finished in 54:28. Last, but not least, Rod Hemingway is on the slow but steady trek back to tip-top shape. He finished in 42:26, good for a 4 minute course PR.
The race was fun, but for me the highlights include singing Meatloaf at the top of my lungs, excellent pre- and post-race feasts, and making s'mores while trying to talk quietly. Not sure if our group managed the "quiet" part, but we certainly had another weekend to remember.
And now for the pictures:
Courtesy of Keith Bradley: here
Courtesy of Jim Rhoades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Courtesy of EliteRunning.com: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
by Katie Famous
Katie Famous heads for the finish at FalmouthFor 5 years in a row, the Falmouth Road Race has been my favorite running event of the year. When I joined the club, Tom Derderian told me that a big part of post-collegiate running is not always about what you do, but who you do it with. The Falmouth Road Race epitomizes this for me. I first found out about the race a little over 4 years ago. Margaret Bradley was my best friend and from the town of Falmouth. To her, this race was the best, most important race in the whole United States. And she made sure everyone knew it. For her, there was no question if I would race or not. It would only be how high of a number she could get me with her local connections.
The weekend soon took on a life of its own. There were many GBTC'ers in the race, as well as those along for the ride. Won over by her enthusiastic and frequent invitations, most of us went straight from the finishing line to the Bradleys' home. For Margaret, family and GBTC were almost synonymous.
As is well-chronicled in other sections of this website, Margaret died shortly before the 2004 Falmouth Road Race. But many parts of the tradition have continued. Margaret's friends and family still get together and make quite the weekend out of it. I truly believe it would make Margaret so happy to know this.
As for the race itself. In my experience, the weather is either hot, humid, or both. This year we lucked out; it was only hot.
Sloan Siegrist led the women. After years of contributing conversation and cheering, she finally was able to procure a number and impress us with her racing skillz. Sloan finished in an excellent 36th place, just behind recent high school grad and mile star Colleen Weatherbee in 44:26. Laura Hayden finished behind her in 43rd place (46:13). I managed 46th place (46:43). Christy Bonstelle was 77th in 49:01, just a bit behind Liz Ortenburger (48:27).
For the men, Kipp Ortenburger led the way, in his last race for GBTC before leaving with Liz for Australia. He finished in 38:43, good for 59th place. Kit Wells managed to get us all to the race on-time and finished 68th (39:39). Brad Kozel was a few steps behind Kit for almost the entire race, finishing 70th (39:47). Our president Bruce Davie had yet another stellar race, finishing in 77th place with a 40:20. Norm Robbie was also spotted at the race and he finished in 54:28. Last, but not least, Rod Hemingway is on the slow but steady trek back to tip-top shape. He finished in 42:26, good for a 4 minute course PR.
The race was fun, but for me the highlights include singing Meatloaf at the top of my lungs, excellent pre- and post-race feasts, and making s'mores while trying to talk quietly. Not sure if our group managed the "quiet" part, but we certainly had another weekend to remember.
And now for the pictures:
Courtesy of Keith Bradley: here
Courtesy of Jim Rhoades: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Courtesy of EliteRunning.com: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
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