Greetings! THANK YOU to each and every runner, volunteer, and sponsor of this
year’s race. We were lucky to have a beautiful day to play in the woods, with the
day’s mild temperatures and partly sunny skies making it much cooler than the ninety
plus degrees heat of the two previous days. A very special thanks goes to the Northeast
Harbor Ambulance Company for their time and efforts to make sure that all our runners were
safe. Knock on wood, they were able to relax and have a good time without having to do
their thing!
The long course was re-measured by Kevin Johnson and myself with a tracking GPS. Without
the other side of the Beech Hill Farm part of the course (electric fence up) and with Sand
Point Road included, the total mileage came out to slightly longer than 9.5 miles (15k is
equal to 9.3 miles). Unfortunately, I had to make a Race Director’s Decision and
opted not to include the Sand Point Road part of the course this year. (A couple more
volunteers would make this possible next year – I need two for this section.) So, I
estimate that the total distance for the “15K” was actually 8.1 miles this year.
The course included completing a different version of the reverse loop (going left on the
way down the big hill), across the middle trail and up the “hill”(paved road),
around the outside of the field and into the field between the basketball court and the
trees to the finish. By shortening the reverse loop there was limited head-on running.
Early on Judson Cake and Gabriel Brooks battled Mark Bell for the lead.
With all the turns (22 total just for the Camp Loop, and 42 for the entire course!) each
runner was challenged to the max to watch the trail markings and to retrace wrong turns.
The leaders were off track somewhere on the first loop before the Carter Burial Ground,
but they were able to correct themselves. After the second loop at the Camp, Judson Cake
had regained the lead from Gabriel Brooks and Mark Bell. Meanwhile, Linwood White had
gained ground on the first pack and was in third place heading down to the Farm section.
In the Ladies race things were pretty even with a pack of three staying within one minute
of each other, but Barbara Bell held the lead pursued by Jessica Walters and Jessica
Barbay. Returning from Beech Hill Farm Judson Cake had a pretty comfortable lead for his
Overall Male First Place finish at 1:02:41, but the race for second was on. Gabriel Brooks
was able to hold off a gaining Linwood White and finished Second Male Overall at 1:09:00.
Linwood White came in Third Male Overall at !:10:55. On the ladies side of things some
wrong turns had made things interesting, but Barbara Bell was still able to overcome the
mishaps for Overall Female First Place at 1:20:30, and the Jessica’s stayed very
close behind with Jessica Walters and Jessica Barbay finishing together as Second and
Third Female Overall at 1:20:45.
Some other notable performances were made by Chase Pray (M 50-59) at
1:17:17, and by Owen Barber (M 60+) at 1:34:06. Owen is the most senior runner to finish
in the history of the long run, and now a two-time veteran! Great job Owen! Honorable
mention to Terry Harrington (F 50-59), who with her last place finish at 2:26:00 was the
winner of our Distinguished Turtle Award for Diligence and Determination. I think she had
the most fun out in the woods today! Way to Go!
The "5K" race was lengthened to a 4 mile distance to avoid the head-on running
and to eliminate a couple off turns. 2001 runner-up and 2000 winner Thomas St. Germain
again raced out from the field of 44 for the lead. Despite having an early mishap he was
still leading the way after the first loop at the Camp, with 15-year-old Brian Sharkey in
hot pursuit. Watch out all you old guys… On the second loop Tom worked things to
perfection, completing the 4 miles in 29:34, showing us why he is one of the best
all-around runners in New England. Brian came in second with a 31:25 finish.. Just another
year and anything could happen with this talented young guy! In the ladies race Trish
Nervo ran an impressive 37:23 and came in tenth overall! Way to go Trish! Abby Winterberg,
a cross-country runner, finished a strong second in 39:57. There were lots of awesome
performances from our youth competitors, including Stephen Coston (just 13 years old!) at
37:40, and David Clements (15 years old) at 38:25. Mary Richards (F 13-19) won her
division the third year in a row at 44:16, closely pursued by Crystal Jacques (F 13-19) at
45:31. Looks like we’ve got a hot new generation of trail runners coming up! Great
runs! Also, Andy Alteri (M 13-19) at 47:24 and Nicky Young (F 13-19) at 51:43 did great
jobs in their first go at a trail run.
Other race directors David Painter (The 5K To End Domestic Violence on Saturday, October
5, 2002) and John Hunt (Great Pond Mountain Trail Run on Sunday, October 6, 2002) ran
consistently and impressively for a neck in neck finish at 33:55 and 33:58 respectively.
Becky O’Keefe (Race Director of The Winter Harbor 5K) also had a great run in her
first trail run at 50:44.
I must mention Mike Watson, who at 57 has not slowed down a whole lot, finishing 9th
overall at 35:46. Also, great runs by Nancy Patterson at 47:50:0 and Maureen Farren at
55:58 in the F 50-59 division, and by Karen Kappes at 69:48:00 in the F 60+ division!
Karen, Debra, and Jennifer shared the most fun award for the short run. This is what trail
running is about!
Again, thank you for coming out to play in the woods for a great cause. We really CAN make
a difference in our world! Think of all the kids you are helping out by having a great day
of fun running in the woods. Make your plans for more great weekends of trail running at
the upcoming events (check the Crow Athletics website at www.crowthletics.com for more
detailed info)!
Happy Trails! See you next year!
Sincerely,
Peter J. Keeney
Crow Athletics
PO Box 244
Bar Harbor, ME. 04609
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS, WITHOUT WHOM IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE:
Cadillac Sports, Bar Harbor Inn, The Scrimshaw Workshop, Graves Shop ‘N’ Save,
Willis’ Rock Shop, In The Woods, Bar Harbor Banking & Trust, The Employees
Activity Committee of the Jackson Laboratory, Jeckyl & Hyde, Parson’s Lobsters,
Morning Glory Bakery, J.H. Butterfields, T-Shirt Express, Music Bar, Sunrise Motel, Top Of
The Hill Restaurant, Treasure Island, Dunkin Donuts, Salisbury Farm Hardware, and First
Express Copy Service, Paul DeVore, Karen Keeney and Valerie Huestas.
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, FOR THEIR INVALUABLE ASSISTANCE AT THE RACE:
Northeast Harbor Ambulance; Carol, Jessica, and Albert Hamor; Suzanne, Cecelia
and Andrew Sullivan; George; Mark and Iza Donaldson; Valerie Huestas; Cherie Belsan; Karen
Keeney; Susan Keeney; Kevin Johnson; and Papa Crow Gary Allen.
AND A BIG THANKS TO CROW ATHLETICS FOR SPONSORING THIS RACE!