Notes
2013 National XC Championships in Forest Park for the second consecutive year. Bramlett and I have been talking about doing this event for over a year and decided early in 2012 to take the plunge and run the 2013 event. As we were talking about it, decided to see if we could get a team of local Master's runners to participate.... One thing led to another, we asked Mo Running Co - Cape Girardeau's owners Bryan and Kim Kelpe if they would be willing to sponsor our team and make their organization a club team under the USATF umbrella, and they graciously agreed.
Team Mo Running Co consisted of eight 40 and 50 y/o guys who enjoyed running and were willing and able to participate at the 2 Feb event. Kevin Bramlett, myself, Joe W, Steve Schmittzhee, Paul S, Coach Mark Hahn, Doug Ambler and our secret weapon Jay Townsend donned the bright orange team tops and put our toes on the line in box #14 of the Master's 8K race.
Race begins and the entire pack is off fast. We are right next to StL Track Club and I know a couple of their runners and move right behind BW as I know he will begin just under 6 min mile pace. Wanting to tag along behind him for the first 1K of the course to keep from going out stupid. MoRunCo is running in a tight pack for the first 1K. Coming up the first hill on the north side of the course, I begin to stretch it out a little and start working the pack. Come through the first loop split at 7:23 and Toni tells me I am in 53rd place as approaching the mat. Have come through mile one in 5:46 but know the conservative start has helped me as I am moving up in the pack consistently during the second loop. Laps 1 and 4 are inside loops and laps 2/3 are outside loops in this 8K race.
Mile two split of 5:48 and, as coming up to the second 2K split mat, am told I am in position 37. Wow - I passed 16 people in the second loop. Come across the split mat the second time in 14:50 elapsed time with 2nd loop time of 7:28. Work to focus on the third loop of the course and mile 3 split of 5:47. Am on sub-18 min 5K pace and know things are going to start getting uncomfortable but have a good group of 3-4 guys who are all holding pace. As we finish up the 3rd loop, am in 34th place and trip the mat for the 3rd time in 22:19 with a loop time of 7:30.
Can feel myself slow on mile 4 as my body is pushing back from running under the LT threshold for the first 3 miles. Mile 4 split of 6:08 but have been able to hold my position. Another variable has made its appearance on lap three; the course is starting to get slick and I am having to adjust myself to keep from slipping, therefore not able to hit my proper tangents as was able to do the initial two loops.
Loop 4 is a blur as I attempt to focus while maintaining my position. I have moved past a Columbia Track club runner but as we crest the final hill and begin the 400m stretch run, he and another 55+ guy pass me. I begin what is my kick but, although not able to catch those two, am able to hold my position and finish 35th OA with an official time of 29:51.6 Mile 5 split of 6:03 and final .06 miles in 17.8 seconds for 4:53 final push as my garmin shows 5.06 total distance. Poor tangents on the last two loops are the only thing I can think of as a negative on this race. Ecstatic at finishing in the top 35 as was shooting for a top 1/3 field finish.
Great experience and Mo Running Co team did on outstanding jog. Our top 5 guys finished in top 56 OA and all 8 guys finished in the top 80. In addition, all 8 of our runners finished with age-graded percentage times of 70%+ which is an amazing feat for a bunch of true hobby joggers. Only guy on our team with collegiate experience was Jay T and he showed why he was a member of a national championship team in college with his big finish today.
Team Missouri Running Company-Cape Girardeau times:
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Kevin Hammes, 35th OA in 29:51.6 and 5th of 20 runners in 45-49 age group.
Jay Townsend, 45th OA in 30:29.9 and 10th in 45-49 age group
Joe Windeknecht, 53rd OA in 30:54.7 and 13th of 20 runners in 45-49 age group
Mark Hahn, 55th OA in 31:03.6 and 14th in 45-49 age group
Paul Schell, 56th OA in 31:12.4 and 30th of 40 runners in 40-44 age group
Kevin Bramlett, 60th OA in 31:43.6 and 8th of 20 runners in 50-54 age group
Doug Ambler, 66th OA in 32:14.6 and 34th of 40 in 40-44 age group
Steve Schmittzehe, 80th OA in 33:44.9 and 18th in 45-49 age group
Team finishes 5th of 5 teams but have the tightest spread finish of the five 40+ teams with a 1:21 time; That is impressive.
Average finish time of 30:43 and total time of 2:33:34 for top 5 scorers.
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This race was truly a national caliber championship event as 38 of the 127 finishers ran 80%+ (National class) times. In addition, 97 of the finishers ran 70%+ age-graded times.
When breaking the race down, it is really a tale of two different animals. (1) The elapsed time finishers and (2) The age-graded results.
The top 10 finishers with regard to elapsed time included only 2 runners over the age of 43. John Mirth, age 50, finished ninth OA and Robin Rogers, age 44, rounded out the top 10 placers. The top 8 placers were ages 40-43 with six of the top eight finishers either 40 or 42 y/o.
Of the top 20 placers in the race, only 4 finishers were age 45 or above; This clearly indicates that the elapsed championships are, and should be, dominated by the "young guns" who have the fresh legs as well as those who Father Time has not frayed.
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The Age-graded results of this race tell a different tale. John Mirth, age 50, was the OA winner and the only finisher in the race who broke 89% age-graded. As good as this field was, no one ran a world-class time of 90%.... This is an indication of how hard it is to break into that elite company.
Age-graded results tend to favor the fast older masters runners. For example, of the top 10 Age-graded finishers, three guys, ages 63,68 and 60 broke into this elite group. In addition, only 4 of the guys age 40-44 made the top 10 OA under the Age-graded formula. Three 50-59 year old runners were in the top 10 finishers.
Top 10 Age-Graded Finishers:
1. John Mirth, age 50 with 89.09% ---9th OA elapsed
2. Ignacio Jimenez, age 63 with 88.44% ---48th OA elapsed
3. Raymond Pugsley, age 43 with 88.12% ---2nd OA elapsed
4. William Moore, age 51 with 88.06% ---13th OA elapsed
5. Rusty Snow, age 43 with 87.76% ---3rd OA elapsed
6. Ahrlin Bauman, age 40 with 86.41% ---1st OA elapsed
7. Mark Rybinski, age 57 with 86.10% ---34th OA elapsed
8. Jan Frisby, age 68 with 85.95% ---74th OA elapsed
9. Bobby Williams, age 60 with 85.84% ---50th OA elapsed
10. Keith Mulhollon, age 42 with 85.81% ---4th OA elapsed
With a combination elapsed finish/Age-graded finish, I would put Raymond Puglsey as the "true" winner of this race with a 2/3 finish = 5 total points. 2nd place with this combination would be Arlin Bauman with a combination finish of 1/6 = 7 points followed closely by Rusty Snow with a 3/5 combination = 8 points. 4th with this combination is 50 y/o John Mirth with a 9/1 finish worth 10 points. Keith Mulhollon finishes 5th with a 4/10 combination = 14 points.
* Using this combination, the "youngsters" again rule with the top 5 "finishers" ages 43, 40, 43, 50 and 43. 50 y/o John Mirth was the only guy over the age of 43 in this group.
Very interesting indeed....Folks, using this formula, the race was very, very close and definitely worthy of a National caliber XC event.